Boxing: Dalung Hails Ajagba In Defeat

The minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Solomon Dalung has heap praised Team Nigerias boxer and Commonwealth champion, Efe Ajagba for his performance in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games despite loss his quarterfinal bout to Kazakhstans Ivan Dychko to crash out.Ajagba, who is the only boxer representing Nigeria in the Rio Games, lost all three rounds to Kazakhstans Ivan Dychko in the quarter-final.Dychko who approached the first round as favourite aimed directly at the Nigerians face and landed a couple of right-hand punches and was rewarded by the judges who gave him a 10-10-10 lead over Ajagbas 9-9-9.However, Dalung described the boxer and Blessing Okagbare, who will also failed qualify for women 200m event as a good ambassadors who deserved commendation for acquitting themselves creditably and giving their all during their various contests, saying the fact that they failed to advance further notwithstanding.The minister, who led other officials of Nigerian government and the NOC to cheer the athletes, applauded the resounding support of sport-loving Nigerians for their sports ambassadors in RIO so far and enjoined them not to waiver or relent.While wishing those concerned good luck and better results next time, the Minister urged them not to be downcast but increase their training and determination for better results in future.Ajagba lost by unanimous decision of 28-29, 28-29, 28-29 to Dychko who won bronze at the London 2012 Olympics.Recall that it took Efe Ajagba just 23 seconds to knockout his Trinidad & Tobago opponent Nigel Paul in the second round. With the quarter-final loss, Nigeria has no more representatives in boxing.
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