by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 14, 2025 | Nigeria, Other Sports
The children of Nigerian table tennis star Quadri Aruna showcased their talent by securing podium finishes at the João Monteiro Table Tennis Tournament in Portugal over the weekend, as reported by PUNCH Sports Extra.
While their father competed in the semi-finals of the WTT Contender Doha, his children—Mariam, Aruna Junior, and Amirah—shone brightly under the coaching of their mother, Ganiyat Aruna.
Mariam Aruna clinched second place in the U-15 category, while Aruna Junior also earned a silver medal in the U-11 category. Amirah Aruna marked a milestone by claiming third place in the U-11 category, securing her first-ever trophy.
Reflecting on their achievements, Ganiyat shared her gratitude on Facebook: “It’s not easy. Since 7 am in the morning. Alhamdulillah, it all ended joyfully and with praises. All thanks to mum and dad. We are the Arunas. We go again tomorrow. All on God.”
The African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) also celebrated the Aruna siblings, praising their efforts in keeping the family legacy alive.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 14, 2025 | Nigeria, Other Sports
Lucky Piety, captain of Nigeria’s U-19 women’s cricket team, has expressed her team’s determination to excel and make history at the 2025 ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in Malaysia from January 18 to February 2.
The Junior Female Yellow Greens, debutants in the competition, secured their spot after winning the Africa Qualifier, joining three other nations making their first appearances.
“Our main goal is to compete at the highest level and leave a legacy for Nigeria. Personally, I see this as a chance to showcase my talent on a big stage and inspire others,” Piety stated during an ICC Media Zone interview.
Despite losing their first warm-up match against Pakistan by 11 runs, the team showed promise, with Piety taking two wickets and opener Victory Igbinedion scoring 46 runs off 57 balls. The team will face Scotland in their final warm-up game before beginning their group-stage matches in Sarawak.
Nigeria’s first tournament match is against Samoa on January 18, followed by games against New Zealand on January 20 and South Africa on January 22.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 14, 2025 | Nigeria, Other Sports
Israel Adesanya, the former two-time UFC middleweight champion, has turned to an unlikely ally, ex-rival Robert Whittaker, to prepare for his highly anticipated comeback against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia next month.
Adesanya recently shared training footage with Whittaker, captioned “New year, new friends,” highlighting the duo’s unexpected partnership. The two previously faced off in the octagon twice, with Adesanya securing victories on both occasions.
The collaboration sparked reactions from the MMA community. Former UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira commented, “Chama,” meaning passion in Portuguese, while analyst Laura Sanko joked, “Now we need a buddy cop movie.” Fighters Aljamain Sterling and Alexander Volkanovski also praised the pairing, expressing their excitement.
Whittaker, who lost his title to Adesanya at UFC 243 in 2019 and was defeated again in their 2022 rematch, believes Adesanya remains the favorite against Imavov. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Whittaker noted, “Izzy is so good at what he does, but Imavov’s striking and endurance make him a tough challenge.”
Adesanya’s return marks his first fight since consecutive losses, including a title defeat to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305. A win on February 1 could bring him closer to reclaiming the middleweight crown.
Meanwhile, Whittaker is recovering from injuries sustained in a loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308, as he eyes his own comeback.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 13, 2025 | Ghana, Other Sports
The 28th edition of the Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA) Games commenced at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) on Monday, emphasizing the need for increased investment in university sports infrastructure.
Key Highlights:
Opening Ceremony: The Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, inaugurated the event, urging stakeholders and the government to prioritize university sports infrastructure for national development.
Theme: “Repositioning University Sports for National Development.”
Participants: Athletes from 16 universities, including UCC, KNUST, UG, UPSA, UEW, UMaT, and others, are competing in the 15-day sports festival.
Events: The games feature athletics, beach volleyball, handball, hockey, football, basketball, tennis, table tennis, badminton, goalball, and netball.
Significance: Organizers and stakeholders highlighted the role of university sports in fostering unity, developing talent, and driving socio-economic growth.
Torch Lighting: Professor Boampong lit the ceremonial torch, symbolizing the official opening of the games.
The President of GUSA, Shaibu Ibrahim Tanko, stressed that university sports extend beyond competition, contributing to character building, teamwork, and socio-economic development. He celebrated past successes, such as a UCC student’s historic gold medal in high jump at the World University Games, as evidence of the global potential of Ghanaian athletes.
The Local Organizing Committee Chairperson, Professor Rosemond Boohene, encouraged athletes to compete fairly while upholding sportsmanship and building relationships during the games.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 13, 2025 | Boxing, Ghana
National Welterweight Champion Sampson Segbedzi has sent a bold message to all contenders in Ghana and Africa, expressing his readiness to defend his titles against anyone who brings competitive and lucrative offers.
In an exclusive interview with Sammy Heywood Okine at The Gym in Accra, the rising star from Ashaiman emphasized the dangers of boxing and the need for athletes to be adequately compensated for their skill, effort, and talent.
“I am very expensive, and these titles were earned with significant investment. Boxing is big business for me, and I’m open to any promoter who values quality and wants to stage a great show,” Segbedzi stated.
The undefeated champion (9-0-0) currently holds the National Welterweight title, the UBO Africa Welterweight belt, and the PST Tanzania title. A proud native of Kpa Kpa in Adidome, Volta Region, Segbedzi aspires to become an African and World Champion, drawing inspiration from his idol Floyd Mayweather.
Beyond boxing, Segbedzi enjoys football, with Christian Ronaldo as his favorite player, and he spends his free time playing pool football and listening to music by Stonebwoy, a fellow Ashaiman native.
Known as “Mama’s Boy,” he takes pride in his resilience and determination, crediting his coaches, Nii Gonti Adjor 1 (Nii Adama Addy) and Laryea (Lion), as well as his manager, Mr. Albert Ayeebo of Wintuma Enterprise, for their exceptional guidance and support.
Segbedzi expressed gratitude to the chiefs, elders, and people of Adidome for their unwavering support, as well as his hometown Ashaiman for embracing him as their champion.
He also called for reforms in Ghana boxing, advocating for transparency, credible rankings, and improved remuneration for boxers, trainers, and officials.
