Five young Nigerian golfers made their debut for the country at the World Schools Games Golf Championship, with one finishing as runner-up in the Junior Girls category in St Andrews, Scotland.
The championship was held from September 14 to 16 and pitted the Nigerians against young golfers from other countries.
Toluwalashe Balogun of Lagoon Schools, Lekki, took second place in the Junior Girls category, while Tiaraoluwa Ahmadu of St. Saviour’s School, Ikoyi, finished in the top five.
The team was completed by Fireyimi Aina of Lagos Preparatory School, Ikoyi, and Melvin Strasser of Meadow Hall School, Lekki.
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The Team Coordinator, Oluseyi Badmos of 2AT Limited, described the championship as an important platform for exposing young golfers to international competition.
International exposure is an important part of developing young athletes. Opportunities such as this allow our children to compete, learn, build confidence and understand what it takes to perform at a higher level,” Badmos said.
He explained that the team’s participation is closely tied to Let’s Play Golf in Schools, a grassroots initiative of 2AT Limited that introduces golf to schoolchildren and creates a pathway from the school playground to structured training and competitive golf.
Badmos also thanked the Lagos State Government, through the State Universal Basic Education Board, for giving 2AT Limited the opportunity to introduce golf to primary school pupils across the state.
He said sustained collaboration among government, schools, parents, golf organisations and other stakeholders would be essential to widening access to golf and helping talented young Nigerians progress from grassroots participation to national and international competition.
2AT Limited congratulated all five golfers and thanked their parents, schools, coaches and supporters for their backing of junior golf in Lagos State and Nigeria.
By: Peter Akinbo
