By Muhammad Tijjani

The 1 Division Nigerian Army Kaduna has emerged as the overall winner of the 2023 Nigerian Army inter formations combat sports and swimming championship.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that 560 athletes participated in the week-long competition held at the NDA sports complex, Rabidu Cantonment Kaduna.
The athletes were drawn from 1 Division, 2 Division, 3 Division, 8 Division, 81 Division, 82 Division and 6 Division as well as the Army Headquarters Garrison .

1 Division Kaduna topped the table with eight gold, followed by Army Headquarters Garrison with six gold ,and 81 Division which came third with four gold medals.

The fourth on the table was 6 Division with one gold and four silver; 2 Division, 5th position with one gold and two silver; 3 Division, 6th with three silver; 8 Division, 7th position; and 82 Division trailed in 8th position.

The athletes competed in boxing, wrestling and combat swimming .

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, in his remarks at the closing ceremony, emphasised the need for continuous training of troops to be able to surmount the myriads of security challenges bedeviling the nation.

Lagbaja, represented by Maj.-Gen. John Ochai, Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), said that the competition was to make the personnel ready for any combat situation.

“I am aware that the Combat Swimming, Boxing and Wrestling bouts were keenly contested.
“The final bout of boxing and wrestling, which I witnessed this afternoon, has proven to me that the report of your performance during the earlier activities of this championship was fair, accurate and realistic.

“No doubt, the key objectives for this Championship have been achieved,” he said.

The COAS commended the monitoring team from the Army Headquarters Department of Training and the Technical Team from Physical Training Directorate for adhering to prescribed standards.

He said that the lessons learnt from the championship be circulated to all formations to guide them to improve their performance in future events and in the conduct of operations.

“This is my strategic end-state for all our competitive training activities and must be achieved,” Lagbaja added.

He told the competitors that in every competition, there will be winners and losers.

“Since the objective of this championship have been achieved, we are all winners.
“I must however, congratulate the winners and advise you to be magnanimous in victory.

“To other formations that did not win, I urge you to embrace the culture of individual fitness training, team
work and early preparations, as you prepare for future tasks.”

The Army Chief appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his unflinching support and encouragement to the Nigerian Army.
He also commended the efforts of the Chief of Training for organizing the competition.

“I recognize also the tireless efforts of the Acting Director Physical Training and his ever-ready instructors who continue to set new standards in improving fitness in the NA.

“To the participants, once again, congratulations for a good performance, which I am sure has set the pace for the remaining competitive training activities in the Training Year 2023,” Lagbaja added(NAN)

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