The Cinema Hall of the June 12 Cultural Centre in Kuto, Abeokuta, roared with excitement Thursday night as Taiwo Ogunbanwo of Team Ogun delivered a stunning performance to clinch gold in the men’s 10-metre air rifle event at the ongoing National Sports Festival.
Ogunbanwo outshot seven other competitors, amassing 225.4 points after 24 shots across 12 rounds. He narrowly beat Nigeria’s top-ranked shooter, Okposo Esugo of Delta State, who finished with 223.5 points. Samuel Okanlawon of Borno State secured the bronze medal with 204.0 points.
Esugo had held a tight grip on the gold medal in the 10m air rifle event for the past 15 years, a streak that earned him the title of Nigeria’s number one shooter. But Ogunbanwo’s precision and composure on the range marked a turning point.
“This victory means everything to me,” Ogunbanwo said shortly after his triumph. “I’ve trained hard for this moment, and the support I received from the Ogun State government made all the difference.”
He acknowledged the motivation drawn from the N2.5 million reward promised by Governor Dapo Abiodun for medalists, saying, “Knowing that the Governor had our backs was a big morale booster. It lifted my spirit and kept me focused.”
The golden victory added a major boost to Team Ogun’s standing on the medal table. Ogunbanwo also teamed up with Oluremi Emmanuel to win silver in the team’s 10m air rifle event. They were bested by Delta’s pair of Okposo Esugo and Diri Joseph, who took home the gold.
