By: Lawal Damilare

Welcome to the University of Ibadan. It’s the time of the year when you are marking your calendar and setting goals. Yes, it’s not yet 2024, but it’s a new session.

I know you have sworn to do way better than you have ever done. For you freshman, you have heard tales of tsunami, and you have locked yourself for an academic run. Well, if you’re scared right now, you are not wrong.

However, to survive in this institution, it may interest you that you have to do other things aside from jacking. You need an extracurricular to keep your sanity here!

Of course, parties and social events provide you the opportunity to loosen up and let off some steam. However, sports does those things and helps you stay fit, healthy, and happy.

Here are a few sports you can do at the University of Ibadan, where and why you should do them.

Badminton

Badminton is played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. It can be played as singles or doubles and is relatively easy to pick up, gender regardless.

Points are scored by striking the shuttlecock with the racquet and landing it within the opposing side’s half of the court.

Badminton is a sport that ensures active body exercises. It suffices for balancing heart rates and improving mental abilities.

In the University of Ibadan, badminton is coordinated by Faleye (08164717390), and it takes place Monday to Friday by 4pm daily. The team currently trains at the Bello dome and outside the UI gym occasionally.

Athletics

Athletics refers to the entirety of track and field events spanning running, racing, jumping, and throwing events, amongst others. The bulk of the team’s training session happens at the new Awo stadium, and occasional body-building exercises at the school gym. The team has been successful in developing some wonderful athletes over the years. Case in point, Egbeyemi Bowo was the fastest man at the University of Ibadan two sessions ago after winning the inter-faculty 100meters with a whooping time of 11.4meters.

Recently, we had Adedigba, who represented Nigeria at the FISU World University Games in 2023 in the 4X100meters relay and hurdles. The athletics coordinator is Okiki (08167182181), and training time is 4pm.

Judo

The UI Judo club has had its standing for the better part of 2 decades. Currently, under the tutelage of Prince S.O Aloba, the club has produced national champions in the NUGA games and Nigeria sports festival over the years.

Recently, they won bronze medals and several laurels at the just concluded NUGA games. The aim of the sport is to teach self-defense and competitive Judo.

The UI judo club currently trains at the Gabriel Olasode gym beside social sciences. The team captain is Hassan (09056287249)

Taekwondo

Like Judo, Taekwondo focuses on mental development. It literally spells the art of hand and foot. The sport teaches techniques for defending oneself. It is a combination of physical and mental discipline and can be practiced by any age group or gender.

The UI team trains opposite Sultan Bello Hall, close to the squash department.
The Taekwondo team coordinator is Sunday (08162332135)