Seven Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) cadets made history recently when they were the only international athletes to compete against their Chinese counterparts at the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy “Deep Sea Warrior” International Seamanship Competition, which was hosted by the PLA Naval Submarine Academy from October 16 to 21 at the Qingdao International Sailing Centre.
The cadets, who included six males and one female, were the only foreign competitors who competed against their Chinese counterparts in the various events of the seamanship competition, while other countries watched from the sidelines.
The cadets took home a number of awards at the week-long competition, according to the academy’s commandant, Major General John Ochai.
He added that the achievement was a direct outcome of the academy’s new training programme, which gives cadets more emphasis on physical fitness and unique military skills.
“The participation of the seven cadets of the academy at the International Seamanship Competition and Exchange Week is a historic event that put Nigerian on the global map as the first and only country to compete in the competition against the host, China, within the latter’s territorial waters,” said General Ochai.
Therefore, he expressed his happiness that NDA competitors had performed admirably for Nigeria on the world arena by taking home a number of medals in various categories at the conclusion of the competition.
