Rising high jump star Ezechukwuchiri thrilled by national camp invitation
Fiaku Ezechukwuchiri, a 16-year-old high jump prodigy and current national record holder in the Under-18 High Jump category, has expressed his excitement at receiving an invitation to the national athletics camp.
The invitation is for preparations ahead of the Africa Under-18 and Under-20 championships, scheduled to take place in Ndola, Zambia, in late April. Ezechukwuchiri, who has a personal best performance, stated that the invitation has boosted his morale significantly.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Thursday, Ezechukwuchiri disclosed that he has had an interest in sports, particularly high jump, for about eight years since he was in primary school. He has always dreamt of being an Olympian and expressed his determination to not only prepare to emerge top in Zambia but also to sustain his performance until he reaches the world stage.
“I am happy with this invitation; it is a huge encouragement to me. I am going to do my best for my country and for myself. I still have my eyes on the Olympics. I want to take my career to the top,” Ezechukwuchiri said.
He commended Johnny Igboka, a national coach who has been mentoring him and nurturing his potential from an early stage. Igboka is currently among the coaches preparing the athletes for the competition.
Most athletes in the camp were selected from those who participated in the recently-concluded AFN Under-18 and Under-20 All Comers trials held in March at the Ahmadu Bello stadium in Kaduna.