Nigeria will send four swimmers to this year’s 18th FINA World Aquatics Championship in Gwangju, South Korea from July 12 to 18, according to the president of Nigeria Aquatic Federation, Babatunde Fatayi-Williams.
Sports247.ng reports that Fatayi-Willkiams has already outlined strategies through which the four swimmers will be selected, while also charting a course for a busy programme for the federation this year.
Fatayi-Williams said the swimmers have to be in South Korea come July, because the championship will serve as qualifiers for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
He also said current performances of the swimmers to represent the country in Gwangju, would be considered before they are selected.
The Aquatic Federation boss also said that the Nigerian team would take part in the Africa Games in Morocco in September.
He also stated that the federation hopes to host at least one or two national championship in the first quarter of the year.
While admitting that execution of its programme would be slow due to the forthcoming national elections in February, he expressed hope that the National Water Polo championship would take place in August.
Fatayi-Williams, however, assured that the Aquatic Federation would ensure that programmes that would benefit the athletes were pursued.
“The performance of the swimmers at the National Sports Festival and national championships would be considered before the final selection.
“Our target is to shop for a sponsor that will support our National Youth Competition.
“This will give us the opportunity to discover more talents and keep the ones already discovered busy.
“The National Youth Games coming up in September and this will take care of the young athletes.
“We also have African Junior Championship in Tunisia. We hosted the same tournament two years and we will be happy to take part in Tunisia.
“We hope to do well in all these competitions. We will ensure that our athletes are in top shape through the training programme.”
