Host, Delta State, began the defence of their National Youth Games title on a good note, on Friday, hauling six Gold medals in the swimming and weightlifting events.

Their rival, Team Edo, is also giving a good account of themselves at the Games capturing two more gold in cycling and karate events on Friday. Edo had won three gold in the weightlifting event on Thursday evening shortly after the opening ceremony.

In Friday’s swimming event, Joshua okpute captured gold in the 100m breast stroke for boys for Team Delta, while Endurance Olise also won gold in the 50m back stroke for boys. Team Delta third gold medal on Friday came from Dumuje Adien, who won in the 100m butterfly for boys.

In weightlifting event on Friday, Elechi Jude of Delta State clinched the overall position with three gold medals. Akwa Ibom got two silver and one bronze, Osun State one silver and one bronze medal, and Edo one bronze medal.

Team Delta also got a silver medal through Aduye Destiny in the 200m individual swimming event for girls, just as Aniasaba Jenifer grabbed a silver medal in the 100m butterfly for girls.

Team Edo fine start at the 8th National Youth Games, continued on Friday, with Ogbe Divine winning the Gold medal in the 10km female cycling individual event. She won in a time of 18:05:92 minutes.

Also on Friday, Desmond Izengbuwai also won a gold medal for Team Edo in the +50kg karate event.

The gold medal in the cycling and karate event was the fifth by Team Edo, after the state harvested three gold medals in weightlifting shortly after the opening ceremony on Thursday evening.

Esther Amarachi Chijioke won the three gold medals in Clean and Jark (45 kg), Snatch 56kg and got the job done with 71 kg (total) in the female category of at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

Speaking shortly after the event, Chijioke Esther said she was happy that God crowned her efforts with success.

“I am excited. I thank God for the victory after all our training and all the preparations so far. Getting the desired result is what everybody wants. I thank my coaches and the Edo State Sports Commission for making preparation for the games good for us.”

Also speaking, Team Edo weightlifting coach, Williams Omoroghomwan Ikponmwosa, said he was fulfilled after his athlete picked first Gold medals at the Games. He added that his team is capable of getting more Gold medals for Edo State as the competition progresses.

Obajolowo Moboluware won Team Kwara first medal, a silver, in the swimming event.

Team Benue got three silver medals on day one of the Games, with Scholastica Terkumbu Fate finishing second in the Girls 45kg category.