Bayelsa swimmer Obi sets new record
Team Edo officials are upbeat about their chances of winning the ongoing National Sports Festival, tagged Ogun 2025. The state, which has hosted the festival twice in 2002 and 2020, has already garnered 32 medals, comprising four gold, 13 silver, and 14 bronze medals in what has become one of the most competitive Games in recent times.
Edo won the 2002 and finished behind Team Delta at the 2020 edition in Benin City. Now, the state’s Director of Sports Development, Mrs. Sabina Chekere, believes Team Edo has the resources to fight for the title in Ogun.
Chikere said: “We are very hopeful that Team Edo will top the table here in Ogun. Today is just Day 4 of the festival, and so far, everything is working fine for us, though there are some hitches along the way.
“As of Tuesday evening, Team Edo has 32 medals made up of four gold, 13 silver and 14 bronze medals. I am sure that by the end of today, our position on the medals table will change for the better. We are hopeful of getting more gold in kickboxing, athletics, cricket, and other combat sports.”
“Our Governor, Monday Okpebholo has done so much for sports, and the only way to encourage him is to finish top here in Ogun.”
Meanwhile, Collins Obi of Bayelsa State, yesterday, set a new national record in swimming. Obi won the 200m gold in a time of 1:55:41 seconds to break the old record of 2:04:07 seconds set in 1975 by John Ebito of Lagos State.
In the 100m women’s breaststroke, Timipame-ere Akiayefe won the gold medal and came back a few minutes later to propel the Team Delta relay team to another gold in the 4x200m relay.
