1 Division Emerges Winner Of Nigerian Army Inter Formations Combat Sports and Swimming Championship 2023

1 Division Emerges Winner Of Nigerian Army Inter Formations Combat Sports and Swimming Championship 2023

1 Division Nigerian Army has emerged as the overall winner of the maiden Nigerian Army Inter Formations Combat Sports and Swimming Championship 2023. The weeklong competition which held at the Nigerian Defence Academy Sports Complex, Rabidu Cantonment Kaduna from 23-28 July 2022 had participants/atletes drawn from 1 Division, 2 Division, 3 Division, 6 Division, 8 Division, 81 Division, 82 Division as well as the Army Headquarters Garrison .

At the end of the Championship, 1 Division Kaduna topped the table with eight gold and eight silver followed by Army Headquarters Garrison with six gold and 81 Division which came third with four gold medals respectively.

The fourth position went to 6 Division with one gold and four silver while 2 Division came fifth position with one gold and two silver. Similarly, 3 Division came sixth position with three silver; 8 Division 7th position and finally 82 Division trailed in 8th position.The athletes competed in boxing, wrestling and combat swimming.

In his closing remarks, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Maj Gen TA Lagbaja represented by the Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy Maj Gen JO Ochai emphasized the need for continuous training of troops to be able to surmount the myriads of security challenges bedeviling the nation. He stressed that the competition was aimed at making the troops combat ready at all times. In his words. “I am aware that the Combat Swimming, Boxing and Wrestling bouts were keenly contested. “The final bout of boxing and wrestling, which I witnessed this afternoon, has proven to me that the report of your performance during the earlier activities of this Championship was fair, accurate and realistic. He said

The COAS commended the Chief of Training (Army) Maj Gen SG Mohammed for organizing the competition just as he recognised also the tireless efforts of the Acting Director Physical Training Brig Gen AR Bello and his ever ready instructors who continue to set new standards in improving fitness in the NA and adhering to prescribed standards.He congratulated the participants for good performance and discipline throughout the Championship.

The COAS added that the lessons learnt from the Championship will be circulated to all formations so as to guide them to improve their performance in future events and in the conduct of operations. The COAS stressed that in every competition, there will be winners and losers as he congratulated the winners advised them to be magnanimous in victory and urged the other formations that didn’t win to put in more efforts in subsequent championship.

Finally, the COAS appreciated the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unflinching support and encouragement to the Nigerian Army.