One of the four gold medalists for Lagos State in the boxing events of the ongoing National Youth Games in Asaba, Olamide Bello Lawal is thanking God for helping him defeat his tough opponent in the final.
Lawal was the second Lagos State boxer to step into the roped square during the quadruple of finals at Saint Patrick’s College. Asaba, Delta State, after Agboola Oyindamola won the female 42kg category.
Although Lawal eventually got the day’s second gold medal for Lagos State, after which he was followed by Sofiat Yakubu and Bolarinwa Michael, he confessed that it was not an easy task.
While admitting in a chat with Sports247 that it was not an easy competition altogether, Lawal pointed out that he met his toughest opponent of the entire tournament in the final.
The excited pugilist consequently congratulated himself and started by telling Sports247 that he now has extra motivation to aim for bigger things in the boxing ring.
Lawal beamed with delight, as he said: “I feel so good and happy. I say congratulations to myself and pray for more winning.
“This gives me the motivation to seek more improvement and work harder for another one.”
Lawal also recounted how he felt when he was told that his name had been included in the Lagos State delegation to Asaba 2024, and admitted that he never knew its implication until he got the gold medal on Wednesday.
“I was happy when I was told that I would be part of the Lagos State team coming here.
“Although I used to train five times a day, I did not take it very seriously, and I did not know that I could come this far.
“Now that I am here, I have been training more than before, and now I am seeing the results,” Lawal noted.
He then concluded with an assessment of the overall boxing contest at the 2024 NYG, as he carefully analysed his route to the gold medal in Asaba.
“Some of my opponents were tough, the one I fought in the final was the toughest, but God gave me the power to overcome him,” Lawal submitted.
