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Nigeria’s star of the Confederation of African Athletics, U-18/U-20 Championships (CAA) Anita Enaruna, has called on the government to provide more support for her to win more medals.
Enaruna made Nigeria proud at the 3rd CAA U18/U20 championships, winning three gold, and one silver medals to etch her name in the annals of history in Nigerian sports.
She was close to being dropped from the team before her stunning performance in the final race earned a chance to represent Nigeria in the championships.
She was drafted into the U20 women’s 4x100m squad despite not being a natural sprinter, and she ended up with a medal-winning performance to make history.
Anita Enaruna spoke to THE WHISTLER‘s Taiwo Ibrahim in an exclusive interview, detailing her journey to stardom.
The Edo State-born Athlete opened up on how she started as a swimmer, and tried her hands in various sports before settling for Athletics.
She said: “I came to the Stadium one morning, and I saw young people running, some were doing long jumps, but I didn’t start from athletics at first, I did Swimming, Judo, Wrestling before coming to the track where I met my coach who gave me the courage and told me that if I can give two years of my time he will train me to be the best, which he did and I am grateful to God for giving me the strength to be an Athlete, and my coach Abraham Peter.”
Enaruna expressed delight at winning four gold medals at the CAA Championships while dedicating the medals to her mother.
She said: “I was excited and joyful to win medals for my country, because I wasn’t expecting that I would be able to do it but God did, that feeling of being a winner alone is something I will never forget.
“I dedicate the medals to God, my mother, who supports me always by inspiring me and praying for me to succeed, it is because of her love that I am where I am today, and she is my biggest inspiration. Anytime I feel disappointed, she always encourages me never to give up. I will always like to keep making her proud.
“I will also like to appreciate my coach for always believing in me, and pushing me to give my best.”
She described the 400m as the most challenging event of the Confederation of African Athletics Championships in Abeokuta.
Enaruna said: The 400m was very competitive, and challenging because if you don’t follow the tactics carefully you might miss out from the medal table, and I was not ready to lose to anyone.
“I was mentally prepared for it, and I came ready to win at all costs. I told myself whatever my coaches at the national team asked me to I will do it, because my coach told me because it will help me to improve.”
Enaruna called on the government to provide facilities, and financial support for young athletes to enable them to keep making the country proud.
She concluded: “I would like the government to support us we are the one to make Nigeria great with more support, we will give our best, it is not easy for us, sometimes I don’t have money to go to training.most of us are good but no money to boost it we all need the help of the Government.
“We also need more facilities to enable us to train well to be ready for competitions.”
Enaruna’s next target is to represent Nigeria in the Olympics, World Athletics Championships, and the Commonwealth Games.
Source: TheWhistler | Read More
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