Thirteen-year-old taekwondo sensation, Raji Naila Opeyemi, showcased exceptional skill and composure to clinch the gold medal in the 48kg female category at the 2025 U17 LFLP Taekwondo National Championship held at the French International School, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The young athlete, who is part of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) at the last National Sports Festival in Ogun State emerged victorious in a highly competitive final bout on Saturday, held on the school’s basketball court.
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Her performance solidified her growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s rising stars in martial arts.
Naila, who recently also won gold at the National Sports Festival in Ogun State, described her latest achievement as a moment of personal pride and divine support.
“I feel great and happy to win the gold,” she told Sports247. “It’s a happy moment for me to prove what I can do. Though this wasn’t my first time winning gold, today was tough, but by the grace of God, I won.”
Raji Naila Opeyemi emphasized the role of faith and mental strength in her performance, saying:
“Whenever I’m entering the stage, even when I’m nervous, I put God first. I call on Allah, and God answers my prayers.”
Raji Naila’s back-to-back gold medal victories mark her as a standout talent in Nigeria’s youth taekwondo scene. Her performance in Lagos adds to the momentum building around the LFLP Championship as a breeding ground for the country’s next generation of martial arts champions
