Nigeria will enter the history books as the first African country to present a blind athlete at the 2024 World Sambo Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, Afrosport reports.
With Blind Sambo gaining its maiden inclusion in the championships, Nigeria will be represented by Samuel Oladele Kekere, the only blind athlete from Africa expected to compete at the event.
Kekere, an orange belt judoka from Lagos State, began his journey in combat sports four years ago, and is expected to feature in the men’s SV1-class (totally blind athletes) as he will be up against different opponents from around the globe.
Roman Novikov, chairman of the FIAS Commission for athletes with disabilities, and Sheriff Hammed the Vice President and General Secretary of the Sambo Association Of Nigeria, disclosed Kekere’s participation at the event.
Kekere will feature in the men’s 64kg category, while his compatriots James Chegwam and Chairy Jatau will feature in the main event from November 8 to 10 at the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace in Astana.
Athletes from 80 countries will compete for 31 medals over the three-day tournament.
