Saturday, July 19, 2025
  • Advertise with Us
  • About Us – (Naijtimes.com) Nigeria
  • Donate to Naijtimes.com Project
Naijtimes News and Entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • Business
    • Health
    • local
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Video
  • Fashion
  • Sports
  • Global
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
  • Opinions
  • Arts & Culture
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
Naijtimes News and Entertainment
Home Sports

Ajagba dreams Olympic gold

Bridget by Bridget
Sep 19, 2015
in Sports
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinShare on PinterestShare on WhatsappShare on Telegram

Related posts

Emmanuel Eboue disclosed that he had thought about taking his own life when his spouse took all of his wealth and left him penniless.

Emmanuel Eboue disclosed that he had thought about taking his own life when his spouse took all of his wealth and left him penniless.

Apr 15, 2023
The court has mandated that Achraf Hakimi’s wife must equitably divide the wealth she has accumulated during their marriage with her husband

The court has mandated that Achraf Hakimi’s wife must equitably divide the wealth she has accumulated during their marriage with her husband

Apr 15, 2023

Efe Ajagba has dazzled many followers of boxing with his knack for knocking out his opponent. At the 11th African Games, all his fights except the final bout, which won him the gold, did not last the distance. He got the fans into wild jubilation when he secured a first round Knock out in his opening bout over Kenya’s Daniel Shisia.

He continued in that fashion all through the Games, winning the gold medal at the expense of his Egyptian opponent, who withstood some battering in the hands of the Nigerian. The Warri-born Ajagba is the typical heavyweight boxer. He is tall and has a longer reach than most of his opponents, and his greatest weapon is the power he packs in his punches.

For an athlete who is doing so well in boxing, many would have thought that he has been in boxing all his life.

However, Ajaba started boxing in 2011 when he dumped football on the advice of his friends who saw great potential in him.

He told NationSport: “I started boxing in 2011 in Delta State and represented the state at the 2012 National Sport Festival (NSF) in Lagos where I won silver medal. I must thank my friends for giving me the advice to do boxing because as a footballer, I may still be struggling to get public attention.

At the NSF in Lagos, Ajagba didn’t display naivety expected from someone who just got into a sports a year before his first tournament and this endeared him to the boxing fans, who chanted his name whenever he was on the ring.

With football completely out of the picture, Ajaba concentrated on his boxing career and his silver-winning feat at the NSF earned him an invitation to the boxing team preparing for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014. In camp, he was faced with a herculean task: he had to outshine the boxer who defeated him at the NSF to have a chance of making it to the Commonwealth Games. Ajagba would not let the chance slip as he battled his way onto the final list of boxers to Glasgow.

Arriving in Glasgow, Ajagba was more determined to go home with a medal and he set his target on the move by securing a knockout in his opening bout of the game, an accomplishment, he noted, boosted the confidence of other boxers in the team.

“It was very nice winning my first bout in Glasgow. It was a good morale booster and also gave confidence to the entire boxing team. In the quarter final, I beat a South African, but lost the semi final to an Australian by a point to settle for bronze.

With that exploit, Ajagba came to Congo Brazzaville as the clear favourite to pick the gold in his weight category. In Congo, he told his coaches to put their mind at rest, assuring them that he would pick the gold. He stuck to his plans judiciously, knocking out his opponent one after the other on his way to glory.

“When we got here, I told my coaches that I was going for the gold and that they should not panic. All I needed was their encouragement and tutelage and I got both in abundance. I must admit that it helped me dominate my weight category.”

Having missed the World Championship qualifiers  in Morocco, Ajagba is still hopeful that he would be able to display his skill at that tournament if the words of the president of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), Kenneth Minima are taken into consideration. “The President has told us that we still have the chance to take part in the World Championship and if that happens, I will take the opportunity with both hands.

According to the pugilist, the next step for him is the Rio Olympic Games, which comes up next year in Brazil.

He stated that he hopes to pick up a medal and continue his movement towards the zenith. The Olympic is the biggest stage and I hope to win a medal in Brazil.”

He is aware of the fact that he needs to work hard to achieve that aim and he has promised to train hard with the support of the coaches. “My experience at the Commonwealth Games has shown me that a lot of preparation and the right mentality have to be in place to win a medal. You can be good, but if the mentality is not right, it will be difficult to make it. So, what I am doing right now is to get into the right condition for the Olympic qualifiers.

“Like I pointed out earlier, the coaches are instrumental to getting me to this level and I will appreciate it if they can do a better job so that I can become an Olympic and world champion.

To enable him display his ability at Rio, Ajagba has to be at the qualifier in Cameroun where he is sure of picking a ticket. “It will be a tough qualifier, but my form should get me a ticket to the Olympics. Nothing good comes easy so I have to fight hard to be in Rio.

He called on the authorities to provide the necessary equipment and training facilities for the boxers so that they can be at par (if not better) than their counterparts allover the world. “Becoming a world champion is not an easy task. All elements must be in place to get to such height. And we can only get there if we have the equipment to boost our performances.

“Just as we are planning to become the best boxing nation, others are also doing the same, so it gets down to which country prepares  better. And I hope that we will continue to get the exposure that will take us to greater height.”

When asked to mention those who had contributed to his career, he stated: “I must thank my friends for believing in me, for spotting the potential in me. I must also thank my family members who have stood by me, while all the coaches I have worked with have been my greatest career influence.”

Facebook Comments

Share this:

  • Share on Tumblr
  • WhatsApp
  • Reddit

Like this:

Like Loading...
Tags: fashionsports
Previous Post

WE MUST DEVELOP GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL – SALISU YUSUF

Next Post

ITF, NIPC to promote women, youth entrepreneurship growth

Next Post

ITF, NIPC to promote women, youth entrepreneurship growth

Drop Your CommentCancel reply

RECOMMENDED NEWS

My social media became stagnant after I left Mark Angel – Denilson Igwe

My social media became stagnant after I left Mark Angel – Denilson Igwe

12 months ago
President Buhari has authorized the delay of the 2023 census.

President Buhari has authorized the delay of the 2023 census.

2 years ago
Due to an infestation of insects(Cockroaches), prayer was not able to be conducted in Kaaba

Due to an infestation of insects(Cockroaches), prayer was not able to be conducted in Kaaba

2 years ago
Live Report from Supplementary election at Iyiowa Odekpe

Live Report from Supplementary election at Iyiowa Odekpe

2 years ago

FOLLOW US

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • Africa
  • Americas
  • Arts & Culture
  • Asia Pacific
  • Beauty
  • Bitcoin
  • Business
  • Cars
  • Celebrity
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Ethereum coin
  • Europe
  • Fashion
  • Featured
  • Global
  • Health
  • Litecoin
  • local
  • Movies
  • Music
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Others
  • Politics
  • Product
  • Real Estate
  • Relationship
  • Reviews
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • Video

BROWSE BY TOPICS

actress APC arrest arrested atiku baby boy Buhari corruption court day dead death election EPL Government governor killed lagos man media News news & rumors News Update nigeria Nigerian Nigerians NTA off old PA PDP photo photos Police president reacts reveals son speaks State video Videos watch wife

POPULAR NEWS

  • REVEALED: How Police uncover hotel where children are used as sex slaves in Anambra

    REVEALED: How Police uncover hotel where children are used as sex slaves in Anambra

    359 shares
    Share 144 Tweet 90
  • Duties and responsibilities of Acting Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Adebayo Shonubi

    322 shares
    Share 129 Tweet 81
  • Due to an infestation of insects(Cockroaches), prayer was not able to be conducted in Kaaba

    297 shares
    Share 119 Tweet 74
  • President Buhari has authorized the delay of the 2023 census.

    286 shares
    Share 114 Tweet 72
  • How deserted torch uncovered suspected robber in Katsina

    271 shares
    Share 108 Tweet 68
Naijtimes News and Entertainment

Simply the best, for the right news and information at the right time.

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

  • The Central Bank of Nigeria has given Payment Service Providers a 30-day deadline to implement tracking for Point of Sale transactions.
  • Atiku urges the Federal Government to apprehend and prosecute Nigerians who are advocating for the compulsory displacement of the Igbo community from Lagos and other states in the Southwest
  • Chowdeck in partnership with Chicken Republic in Lagos, Ibadan

Calendar

September 2015
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930  
« Aug   Oct »

Tags

actress APC arrest arrested atiku baby boy Buhari corruption court day dead death election EPL Government governor killed lagos man media News news & rumors News Update nigeria Nigerian Nigerians NTA off old PA PDP photo photos Police president reacts reveals son speaks State video Videos watch wife
  • About Us – (Naijtimes.com) Nigeria
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms And Conditions

© 2023 Naijtimes News and Entertainment

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Arts & Culture
  • Beauty
  • Cryptocurrency
    • Bitcoin
    • Ethereum coin
    • Litecoin
  • Education
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Video
  • Fashion
  • Featured
  • Global
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
  • Inspired
  • Sports
  • News
    • Business
    • Health
    • local
    • Politics
  • Opinions
  • Relationship
  • Reviews
    • Cars
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Real Estate
    • Technology

© 2023 Naijtimes News and Entertainment

Go to mobile version
%d