My NSF experience great motivation, Anambra heptathlon “wonder kid” says
Paschaline Izundu, a 16-year-old athletics wonder kid from Anambra, on Wednesday said her exposure to the National Sports Festival (NSF) was a motivation to intensify her pursuit in sports.
Izundu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba she was glad to have been given the opportunity to compete at the national athletics stage in spite of her young age.
The heptathlete is an SS2 student of Ide Secondary School in Enugu-Ukwu in the Njikoka Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra and took part in seven events at the festival.
Izundu finished fourth in the 100 metres hurdles and 200m, threw a distance of 6.21m in shotput and leapt 1.55m in high jump.
She also competed in 800m, javelin and long jump.
Izundu said she was however satisfied with her performance, adding she could rule her world at the NSF with more training.
“I am satisfied because this is my first time jumping over 10 hurdles. I never tried it before. So, coming fourth was good for me.
”In shot put, I did six metres. But that was a miracle for me because I only trained on it for two weeks.
“For the high jump, I started as a novice, and I was doing 1.20 to 1.30m. But I came here and did 1.50m with ease. It was miraculous, I ended up jumping 1.55m.
“But I was not impressed in my 200m, I used to be better than that.
“However, I am so happy competing with champions and I believe I will do better in my next appearance. In two years time, I see myself winning the gold medal,” she said.
Izundu who attributed her success so far to Johnny Igboka, the Head of Anambra Athletics Team, said sports had enhanced her academic performance.
She said she would combine sports and her academic pursuit since both have no negative effect on each other for a determined mind.
The student said Tobi Amusan’s recent exploits at the world stage was a huge motivation to her and she was now her role model.
“Sports has helped my academic performance. As a matter of fact, I am better now than I used to be.
“Training helps me to ease stress. Every session makes me have a good rest and I wake up stronger.
”My earliest exposure to sports was in JSS 1. During an inter-house sports competition, I was called to represent my house where I won prizes and from there, I started going to represent my school invitation.
“That was where I took interest in track and field. The recent one that boosted my morale was when Tobi (Amusan) broke the world record.
”That was where I concluded that I can do it in my own time,” she said.(NAN)
