Even with some events yet to be concluded, host, Delta State, yesterday, reached an unassailable medals tally to emerge champions of the Eighth National Youth Games, which ends today.
With 42 gold, 14 silver, and 19 bronze medals, athletes and officials of Team Delta were in celebration mood at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, yesterday.
As at yesterday evening, Team Lagos had overtaken Edo in the battle for the second spot. Team Edo had the second position from day two of the competition, but they were dropped to the third position by Lagos on Tuesday.
While Team Lagos had 16 gold, 12 silver and 16 bronze medals, Edo had 15 gold, seven silver and 17 bronze medals as at yesterday evening.
Last year, when Delta hosted the seventh edition of the Games, the state topped the medals table with 51 gold, 34 silver and 11 bronze medals, with Team Lagos second with 21 gold, 19 silver and 21 bronze. Edo finished third with 21 gold, 15 silver and 17 bronze medals.
Bayelsa State, which finished fourth last year with 20 gold, seven silver and 16 bronze medals, was on the fifth spot, yesterday behind Team Kwara. While Kwara had 10 gold, seven silver and eight bronze medals, Team Bayelsa had nine gold, 11 silver and 12 bronze medals.
The log could change today, as Bayelsa was expected to dominate the wrestling event, which started yesterday afternoon.
Director General of Delta Sports Commission, Festus Ohwojero, told The Guardian, yesterday, that Team Delta would still win more gold medals in today’s athletics events.
“We topped the table with 51 gold medals last year. Now, we are having 42 gold, which means the Games is more competitive this year. As at now, 32 states have medals unlike last year when it was about 27 states. Apart from Rivers State, all other states and the FCT attended this year’s Games,” Ohwojero stated.
In some of the events concluded yesterday, Team Delta won gold in the para-athletics boys T46/47 event through Toheeb Olawale. Akwa Ibom grabbed the silver, while Bauchi settled for the bronze medal.
In girls’ handball, Delta won the gold medal, Sokoto grabbed the silver, with Edo taking the bronze.
Team Kaduna put up a brilliant performance, grabbing two gold and one silver medals, yesterday. Kaduna recorded the feat in Beach Volleyball girls (gold), cricket boys (gold) and boys’ beach volleyball (silver).
Today’s boys football final will be between Delta and Abia states, as Edo failed to show up for their semifinal with Delta at St. Patricks College, Asaba, yesterday. Team Edo was said to have protested the decision of the screening committee to reinstate four hitherto disqualified Delta players into the Games.
The players were among eight footballers earlier disqualified by the screening committee, but the four won their appeal and were reinstated into the Games.
