Nigerian pugilist Akintola makes gold claim

Team Nigeria boxer David Akintola has declared that he is travelling to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, with only one target in mind, winning a gold medal for Nigeria.

Competing in the men’s 80kg middleweight division, Akintola said months of intensive training and preparation had put him in the right frame of mind to challenge some of the best boxers across the Commonwealth.

“My target is to win the gold medal. I believe in my ability, and I have worked hard to prepare for this competition,” he said.

The boxer expressed confidence in his physical condition and technical readiness, saying his belief had been strengthened by the quality of preparation provided ahead of the Games, and described representing Nigeria on one of the biggest international sporting stages as a privilege that came with enormous responsibility.

“I am optimistic about my chances because I know the work I have put in. I believe in my strength, and I believe I can make Nigeria proud,” he added.

Boxing has historically been one of Nigeria’s strongest medal-producing sports at the Commonwealth Games, and Akintola said he was determined to uphold that tradition and add his name to the country’s growing list of champions in the discipline.

The country’s boxing team heads into the Games with renewed optimism following an extended training programme designed to prepare athletes for the intensity of elite international competition, with the National Sports Commission hoping the current crop of fighters can continue Nigeria’s legacy in Glasgow.

Nigerian boxers have secured over 30 medals since the nation’s debut in 1950. Nigerian pugilists have long served as one of the country’s primary medal hopes, with standout appearances like Birmingham 2022 yielding four medals where superstar Elizabeth Oshoba secured a silver medal.

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