Defending champions of the National Youth Games (NYG), Team Delta, have begun closed camping ahead of the ninth edition of the Games, holding from August 26 to September 6 in Asaba.
 
Over 600 athletes from Team Delta are camped at St. Brigid’s School hostel, Asaba, the Delta Sports Commission hostel, as well as the hockey hostel located in Okpanam.
 
An official of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Festus Ohwojero, yesterday, said that athletes and officials to fly Delta’s flag in the NYG would be announced later this week.
 
“We have over 600 athletes in three different camps right now,” Ohwojero said. “Very soon, the number of athletes that will represent Team Delta at the 9th National Youth Games will be made known to the public.”
  
Meanwhile, Team Bayelsa made a good impact at the just concluded Zonal Eliminations in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State ahead of the NYG. Team Bayelsa, led by Acting Director of Sports, Mr. Andrew Aye, attended the zonal elimination in Uyo with a 250-man strong contingent and participated in 10 different sports.
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Team Bayelsa outclassed Rivers 17-9 in girls’ basketball before white-washed Akwa Ibom State 16-2 to finish first, while the boys defeated Akwa Ibom 18-14 in the first game, beat Edo 7-1 in the second game, lost the third game to Rivers 17-19 in the added minutes, but still qualified.
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In football, Team Bayelsa won three out of three matches to secure a place in the NYG, while the girls won two matches to keep their hopes intact.
‎Also in Abula, both boys and girls’ teams from Bayelsa qualified for the NYG, with the girls finishing first in the zone, while the boys secured the second position.
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Speaking on their performance, Aye, said Bayelsa has left participating to competing, stating that he is pleased with the performance of the state’s contingent.