By Odimayo Olatunde
Kogi State has qualified for the Quarter final match in the Weighter Weight 69KG, and Light Weighter 64kg boxing event in the ongoing National Sports Festival, tagged Edo 2020.
The duo of Osita Umeh and Rasheed Wasiu beat their opponent’s from Edo and Imo State respectively.
While Osita Umeh knock Abiodun Yakubu of Edo State in the Weighter Weight 69KG championship, Rasheed Wasiu of Kogi State also defeated Oriaku Moses of Imo State at round two through technical knockout in the Light weighter 64kg event.
Speaking shortly after their fight, the Kogi State boxers told journalist that they were out to win medals for the state.
According to them, despite some pockets of challenges they faced during the competition, they were optimistic that their quest to win gold for the state would not be hindered.
” We are very happy qualifying for the next round of this boxing competition. We are aware that our next opponent are very tough, but that would not shake us as boxing is a game of the mind and determination.
“As Kogi boxers, we are assuring our teaming supporters both home and away that we are going to make them proud with the maximum support we are getting from his excellency, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the sky will be our starting point,” they added.
Reacting to his athletes’ victory, the head Coach of Kogi State Boxing team Gozie Dijeh popularly called (IGOR) told newsmen that the state is fully out to register their name in boxing medals table.
He added that his athletes are fully prepared to face any opponent that would come their way in the next round of the competition.
“Kogi State is fully prepared for the 2020 National Sports Festival. Am very confident with the zeal of my athletes, we are going to win medals in boxing,” he added.
Meanwhile, Solomon Jegede from Kogi State lost to his Ogun counterpart Muritalador Mayushau in the Heavyweight 91KG championship.
Earlier on Tuesday, Sunday Bardo of Kogi State suffered a narrow defeat to Hassan of Edo State by a point in the Lightwieght 60KG boxing match.
