A female boxer in Lagos State’s contingent to the ongoing 2024 National Youth Games in Asaba, Yakub Sofiat says she wants to win a gold medal in order to make her mother proud.
Speaking to sports247.ng ahead of the final on Wednesday, Sofiat added that she also wants to make her older sister happy in ensuring that her prediction of a gold medal comes to pass.
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The excited youngster added that she was almost giving up when training became tough in the Lagos State camp ahead of the Games, but noted how her mum and sister encouraged her to keep believing in herself.
Sofiat recalled, “Since the day my coach told me that I was going to the Youth Games, I was so excited. I first started looking at the possible moves to win the trials.
“After winning the trials, we went to camp, where we were training morning and evening. At a point, I was tired and wanted to relent, but my mum and my sister encouraged me.
“My sister said I should never relent because I’m going to win a gold medal. She kept pushing me that I should believe in myself. So, I’ve been trying to make her proud.”
She also gave a recap of her surge to the final and stressed that the urge to prove that Lagos State is the home of champions will push her to win the gold medal on Wednesday.
“My first fight, I won by knock-out, then this second fight, and I am now in the final of 42kg category. I want to win the gold medal for Lagos State because we are the champions.
“If I win gold on Wednesday, it would mean a lot to me. I promised my mum that I will win a gold medal here, and I want the name of my family to go up,” Sofiat stated.
She ended with a promise to keep working hard after Asaba 2024 so that she can later represent Nigeria at the Olympic Games and then win a World Boxing Council (WBC) belt.
“I promise never to relent in boxing. After winning gold here, I will keep working hard, because I want to represent Nigeria in boxing, and then collect the WBC belt for my country also,” Sofiat projected.
