Bauchi wins maiden gymnastics competition

The maiden edition of the Aisha Bala Mohammed North-East Zonal Gymnastics competition ended in Bauchi over the weekend with the hosting state emerging as the overall best gymnast team.

The 5-day competition was held at the Sani Abacha Gymnanism, Bauchi with participating gymnasts from Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe States.

At the end of the competition, Isa Usman from Bauchi State won two gold medals in the floor exercise and vaulting horse for men.

Also, 13-year-old Munyel Simone Kwairanga representing Gombe state won two gold medals in the Floor exercise and vaulting horse for women.

Sponsor of the competition who is the First Lady of Bauchi State, Aisha Bala Mohammad who witnessed the closing ceremony said that she was impressed with the performance of the gymnasts promising her support to grassroots sporting activities.

Also, the Commissioner of Youths and Sports Development, Salees Mohammad Gamawa said that there are plans to reposition Bauchi as the Mecca of Sports.

He emphasized the importance of sports saying that the ministry is to organise a Sports festival very soon.

According to him, “I want a situation where we will have athletes on the ground that can represent the state in any sporting competition which is why the sports festival will be organised to hunt for talents.”

The Bauchi State First Lady Aisha Bala Mohammad received an award alongside the commissioner of Youths and Sports Salees Mohammad and the Director of Bauchi State Sports Council Usman Yusuf

National President, Gymnastics Association of Nigeria, Prince Erhunmwunse represented by the Vice president, Abba Mohammad said that the gymnastics competition is to showcase the potential of sports of gymnastics and to hunt for talents in the zone.

According to him, “For 5 days these gymnasts have demonstrated talents despite many challenges, I, therefore, called the Bauchi State Ministry of Youths and Sports to provide modern equipment at the Gymnanism and organise more competitions to keep the gymnasts busy.”

Speaking to Sports Writers after the event, Munyel expressed happiness over her performance at the competition saying, “I have participated in many gymnastics competitions both within and outside the country and that has fetched me many laurels.”

A special award was given to a parent who sponsored his daughter to the competition Simone Kwairanga.