Republic of Benin in a dominant display has emerged winners of the West Africa Regional Rowing Regatta.
The maiden edition of the two-nation West Africa Regional Rowing Regatta was held at Bics Boat Club, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
The regatta which began Nov. 21 was rounded off on Saturday.
To win the competition, Benin Republic posed a dominant performance by wining four gold, four silver, and one bronze medal.
Nigeria, on the other hand, got one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
In the single skull event, Benin Republic dominated the podium coming first, second and third.
Hounyeme Jean as gold medalist with the time of 2:58:16, while Laurent Hoyessou emerged silver medalist with 3:09:05, and Elikana Jacques became bronze medalist with the time of 31:12:45.
For the Single Skull Women, Benin Republic’s Felicine Agossou won gold with the time of 3:37:33, while fellow country lady, Appoline Adjamu, won Silver having returned the time of 3:09:05 and Bronze won by Nigerian Esther Toko with the time of 3:44:90.
In the Double Skull, Male Category, the duo of Kodoko Rene and Laurent Houessou from Benin Republic won gold with the time of 2:49:20, while their country men, Akpo Ronain and Andre Hounsoukperi won Silver with the time of 2:56:76.
Nigeria duo of Tijani Taofeek and Elikana Jacob won the bronze medal.
Benin Republic also won the mixed double gold, silver and bronze, while in double sail category, Kodoko Rene and Laurent Houessou of Benin returned the time of 21:49:20 to win gold.
The silver medal was won by the duo of Akpo Ronain and Hounsoukperi Andre, while Jacques Elikana won Bronze with the time of 3:12:81.
The President of Nigeria Rowing Federation (NRF), Festus Porbeni, said that the successful hosting of the West Africa Regional Rowing Regatta would serve as a spark that would attract more attention to the sport in Nigeria.
“This is a good development in the federation and we are happy for it. This is what we have been clamouring for, to make rowing and associated sport more popular in Nigeria.
“The federation has been trying everything within its means to make sure that rowing gets the deserving attention. We have the youth who are much interested in the sports.
“We have gone to the Olympics and we have seen how it is, we don’t have Olympics qualifiers in Africa, but this competition is a mark for more things to come,” he said.
Porbeni, however, said that other countries who would have attended the West Africa Regional Rowing Regatta were discouraged over the lingering face-off between the host club, Brics, and Lagos state government.
Also, the coach of NRF, Amidu Jimoh, urged the state associations to develop rowing in their respective states.
A bronze medalist, Toko, urged the government to give more encouragement and attention to Rowing in Nigeria.