Team Lagos sure of better performance as Youth Games begins in Ilorin

Team Lagos has vowed to excel at this year’s National Youth Games by winning more gold medals than they did at the last edition. The competition, which begins today, ends October 20, in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The state, which has a contingent of officials and 260 athletes, will feature in 33 sports at the 10-day Games, where athletes from all states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will compete for laurels.

Speaking on behalf of Team Lagos, the state’s table tennis coach, said the state’s contingent was set to take Ilorin by storm by winning more gold medals, adding that his athletes will achieve more in the table tennis event than in the last edition.

“We have prepared well for the Games this time around. And my players are ready to win more gold medals in table tennis in this year’s National Youth Games.

“At the last edition, we won two silver medals in the male and female categories. We also won bronze medals in the mixed doubles, then in the men and women’s doubles.

“We are hoping to come back home with more gold medals at the end of the Games by God’s grace. And it is the same mood in the camp of other sports taking part in the Youth Games. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has done enough to motivate the athletes to achieve more at this Games.

Meanwhile, the defending champions, Team Delta, will depart Asaba, Delta State capital with a contingent of about 540 athletes and officials for the Games.

Chairman of Delta State Sport’s Commission, Tonobok Okowa, told The Guardian yesterday that the athletes were ready to defend their title.

Team Delta won the fifth edition of the National Youth Games in 2019 with 104 medals.

Okowa said he is optimistic that the state will top the medals table at the end of hostilities in Ilorin on October 20.

“We have worked very hard for this Games, and I am sure Team Delta will emerge victorious again. The state government has given us the support we need, and we are very grateful to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the entire Executive Council.”