Lots of female athletes have competed and won tournaments while pregnant and the case of Nigerian, Aminat Idrees, at the National Sports Festival in Edo state, would readily not pose any form of surprise.
Aminat, 26, won gold, silver and bronze medals in Taekwando at the 20th edition of the sporting events while eight months pregnant.
And while her achievement received plaudits from some quotas, others were displeased and felt deeply concerned about the risk she had exposed herself and pregnancy to by taking part in the competition.
Reacting to criticism that trailed her participation, Idrees said she was surprised at the attention her involvement received, claiming she got medical clearance to compete.
“I decided to participate in this tournament because I know that it is something I could do. I’ve been training consistently and there [hasn’t] been much difficulty during and after training. My coaches believe in me as much as I believe in myself. I was ready physically and mentally for the tournament despite my pregnancy, since it wasn’t combat it was just a demonstration.
“Moreover, the major poomsae events at the festival lasted for about two hours, which is more like my normal training duration so it was just as normal as any training day.”
At the 2012 edition of the NSF, Idrees won her first major medal at 18 in the team poomsae category.
Poomsae is a non-combat aspect of Taekwando and a set sequence of movements that consists of blocks, punches and kicks; logically arranged in order to respond to attacks from multiple imaginary assailants.
