The Nigeria Fencing Federation has described the recently concluded World Junior Fencing Championships in Wuxi, China, as a valuable learning experience for the Nigerian team, despite failing to secure a podium finish.
The six-man Nigerian squad, led by Inkosi Brou, included Wisdom Okanlawon, the Idongesit siblings (Mahadi, Mahathir, and Sara), and Peluola Akinbamiro. Although the athletes struggled to advance beyond the first round, Brou showed promise, defeating Bulgaria’s Nikola Gospodinov 15-12 before losing to Hungary’s Sultan Stanbek 15-13 in the second round.
Okanlawon, a 17-year-old home-based fencer, earned praise from British Fencing President Pat Aiyenuro for his tenacity and skill in the team event, particularly during the first-round loss against New Zealand. Aiyenuro described Okanlawon as a future star.
Nigeria Fencing Federation President Adeyinka Samuel commended the athletes for their conduct and performance, noting that they competed against some of the world’s best fencers. Samuel said the experience would contribute to their growth and serve as a good warm-up for the African Championships in June.
The federation believes the tournament has added value to the athletes’ development, and they are now more aware of the global stage’s expectations.
