It was a scene of raw energy and jubilation inside the Cinema Hall of the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, as Taiwo Ogunbanwo delivered a stunning upset to claim gold in the men’s 10-metre air rifle event at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Ogun State.
Representing Team Ogun on home soil, Ogunbanwo faced off against seven of Nigeria’s finest shooters and emerged victorious in emphatic fashion.
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He fired 24 shots across 12 rounds to amass a total of 225.4 points; enough to dethrone long-standing champion and Nigeria’s number one marksman, Okposo Esugo of Delta State, who trailed closely with 223.5 points.
Samuel Okanlawon of Borno State secured bronze with a respectable 204.0 points.
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The gold-medal feat marked a historic moment, as Esugo had held an iron grip on the 10m air rifle gold medal for an unbroken 15 years, earning him the reputation as Nigeria’s top sharpshooter.
But Ogunbanwo’s heroic precision on Thursday night not only broke that streak but also boosted Team Ogun’s standing on the medals table.
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In the team event, Ogunbanwo partnered with Oluremi Emmanuel to win silver for Ogun State in the 10m air rifle pairs. The duo narrowly missed out on gold to Delta’s formidable pairing of Okposo Esugo and Diri Joseph.
Speaking after his sensational win, Ogunbanwo attributed his triumph to the unwavering support and preparation provided by the Ogun State government, highlighting the role of proper equipment and training in his success.
He also acknowledged the motivational impact of the N2.5 million reward promised by Governor Dapo Abiodun to Ogun athletes participating in the festival.
“That promise pushed me,” Ogunbanwo said. “The support from the state government, the equipment, and knowing what’s at stake, it gave me the drive to give everything.”
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