The Nigerian Army Inter-Formation Platoon Combat Swimming Championship has opened on Monday with 238 athletes participating.
Reports state that the five-day championship is holding in Kaduna.
The athletes are drawn from Army 1 Division, 2 Division, 3 Division, 6 Division, 81 Division, 82 Division and Army Headquarters Garrison.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt -Gen Faruk Yahaya, represented by Commander Nigerian Army Infantry Corps, Maj-Gen Victor Ezugwu, declared the championship open.
He said it was organised to bring out the soldiering skills among the participants and develop their physical and mental endurance.
“It is to bring realism and relevance to our training with a view to encapsulating the challenges our troops are facing in the various operating environments.
“Also the need to reinforce ongoing efforts for the review of the extant approach to fitness training in formations, units and other NA establishments.
“It is also to create the enabling environment for the display of military camaraderie and to underscore my desire for cooperation as well as the unity of efforts in the conduct of training for operations,” Yahaya said.
He said the combat swimming championship is not only aimed at moving sporting activities in the Army from the realm of sports but also to the thresholds of training for combat operations.
“I have no doubt that this championship will enhance the physical and mental endurance of the participants.
“While it is important to earn laurels for your various formations, I enjoin you the participants to compete with a good sense of sportsmanship and comradeship in order to achieve the aim of the championship.
“For the judges, I encourage you to be fair and firm in the discharge of your tasks,” the Army chief added.