Nigeria’s presence in international fencing continues to grow, as 10-year-old Gbemisola Leah-Pedro made an impressive debut at the Ontario Circuit Fencing competition in Canada.
Competing in both the U-11 and U-13 categories, Leah-Pedro secured a commendable 6th-place finish among 28 athletes in her maiden international outing.
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Representing Nigeria, the young talent demonstrated exceptional poise, skill, and sportsmanship, defeating three opponents along the way and earning admiration from spectators and officials alike.
The Ontario Circuit is a key event on Canada’s fencing calendar, drawing promising young fencers from across the region and providing a competitive platform for skill development.
“This is a promising beginning for Gbemisola,” a Nigerian Fencing Federation representative remarked. “Her performance is an inspiration and a clear indicator of what the future holds for fencing in Nigeria.”
Federation President Adeyinka Samuel hailed Leah-Pedro as the future of Nigerian fencing, expressing optimism that her achievement would encourage more youngsters to pursue the sport.
“I am so excited that we are seeing genuine interest from young people,” he said. “With the right support and exposure, talents like Gbemisola can eventually represent Nigeria on the Olympic stage.”
Leah-Pedro’s performance not only highlights her potential but also underscores Nigeria’s expanding footprint in non-traditional sports on the global stage.
