By Sunday Ano
The Nigerian Archery team has successfully completed its campaign at the 13th African Archery Championship in Nabeul, Tunisia, which held from November 7 to 12, 2023.
The continental championship had in attendance 20 African countries that competed across all the bow categories and events.
The team comprising Emmanuel Oyekele (Captain), Olatayo Olasehinde, Damilola Sholademi and Kachollom Eyenihen, competed in the Compound Bow category and in the individual men and women’s event, male team event and mixed team event. The team won a bronze medal in the male team category, silver medal in the mixed team category (male and female) and a bronze medal in the individual female category.
Recall that the team won two silver medals in Pretoria, South Africa in 2022. This would be Nigeria’s first and highest achievement in Archery since the sport started in Nigeria. And this year, the country has won two bronze medals and a silver medal by the same set of archers. From being unseeded, Nigeria now ranks 8th on the continent in Archery. Nigerian male archers, Emmanuel Oyekele, Damilola Sholademi and Olatayo Olasehinde now rank fourth, seventh and nineth individually, while Kachollom Enyenihi ranked third in the female category.
According one of the archers and bronze medalist, Damilola Sholademi, the team had been self-funded by the archers and their archery clubs, ARCH Archery Club, Abuja, and Zen Archery, Lagos, since their first appearance on the continental scene in 2022, and they have continued to do so till date. “There are several international championships annually that the archers need to attend to maintain their global rankings.
“This is a call on well-meaning individuals corporate organizations to assist and fund this brilliant team to bring more glory globally to Nigeria in the sports of Archery,” he said.