26-year-old Nigerian athlete Aminat Idrees, who is eight months pregnant, has clinched a gold medal at the ongoing multi-sport National Sports Festival in Edo State in Nigeria.
Idrees won the medal in the Mixed Poomsae category, a non-combat simulated category of Taekwondo. Apart from this, she also won a silver medal in the female team Poomsae category and an individual bronze in the same category, making her one of the leading medalists at the festival.
Footage shared on Twitter shows Idrees performing her moves in an elegant manner.
An inspiring outing by heavily pregnant Aminat Idrees who won a gold medal for Lagos at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Benin, Edo State.
Aminat Idrees who is 8 months pregnant won gold in the Mixed Poomsae category in Taekwondo pic.twitter.com/rr4fxJCfMs
— National Sports Festival 2020 (@nsf_edo) April 5, 2021
Idrees told CNN that she feels elated by her accomplishment at the event that takes place once every two years.
“It’s such a privilege for me. I just decided to give it a try after training a couple of times… It feels really good,” she said.
“Before I got pregnant, I have always enjoyed training, so it didn’t seem different with pregnancy,” Idrees added.
Idrees also clarified that she discussed her condition with her doctor as well as the organizing committee at the sporting event, both of whom gave their approval for her participation in the event.
“A lot of people don’t understand what Taekwondo is actually about. I feel this is an avenue to educate people about this. Taekwondo has two branches: the combat sport and Poomsae — which is a form of exercise…just displaying the hand and leg techniques in Taekwondo. I participated in Poomsae event,” she told CNN.
“I felt there wasn’t much risk attached to it, so I decided to give it a try. My doctor, as well as the organizing body of the games certified me fit to participate in the non-contact sport,” the expectant mother added.
Philip Shaibu, the chairman of the organizing committee of this year’s National Sports Festival also confirmed that Idrees was permitted to participate in the games after a thorough medical examination.
“She was certified and cleared to participate. She had also been training for months prior to her participation in the tournament,” Shaibu said.
Isn’t this just a very inspiring achievement by Idrees? What do you think? Let us know your views in the comments section below.
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