South Africa wins Pentathlon YOG Qualifiers

Argentina 2018 Modern Pentathlon Youth Olympic Games (YOG) qualifiers and the Senior African Championship ended in Lagos with South Africa topping the medal table with 3 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze medal.

Luke Bradly, Rhys Poovan and Alida Vander Marwe were responsible for South Africa’s 3 gold medals while Jean Fanantwerpen, Bradly Luke and Vroon Amanda Lee accounted for the 3 silver medals.

South Africa’s only bronze medal was won by Alexnder Shliman in the men’s Laser Run category of the championship.

South Africa’s Poovan Rhys picked the ticket to represent the continent in the Pentathlon male in Argentina having emerged tops at the weeklong trials while his team mate, Vander Marwe Alida who surpassed all opposition to win the women youth event, will be flying Africa’s flag at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Argentina.

Host country, Nigeria, finished second behind South Africa with 1gold and1 bronze medal.

Dorcas Abeng Oka won Nigeria’s only gold medal in Women senior event, while Evelyn Nmor who competed in the women category the Youth Olympic Games qualifiers, got the bronze medal for Nigeria. Gambia came third overall courtesy of their 1bronze won by Ngum Fatou.

President of the Nigeria Modern Pentathlon Federation, Chief Jonathan has thanked Nigerian athletes for competing favourably in the competition that had fourteen countries in attendance, even without minding the obvious fact that Modern Pentathlon is still a new and growing sport in Nigeria.

Nnaji praised the Engr. Habu Gumel-led Nigeria Olympic Committee and the Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung for their support while he gave special thanks to the chairman of the Local Organising Committee Chief Francis Ogboro,

who is also the President of the Nigeria Polo Federation for the effective and successful organisation of the championship that lasted from December 4-11, 2017 at both the National Stadium and the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.