Team Delta retains National Youth Games title in style
Team Delta has amassed a total of 114 medals (60 gold, 26 silver, 28 bronze) to emerge champions of the 6th edition of the National Youth Games which ended yesterday in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State. At the end of the five day competition, Lagos State came second with 72 medals (19 gold, 25 […]
A young Delta State athlete and his coach celebrate victory at the National Youth Games in Ilorin
Team Delta has amassed a total of 114 medals (60 gold, 26 silver, 28 bronze) to emerge champions of the 6th edition of the National Youth Games which ended yesterday in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.
At the end of the five day competition, Lagos State came second with 72 medals (19 gold, 25 silver, 28 bronze), Edo placed third with 40 medals (18 gold, 10 silver, 12 bronze), while Bayelsa ended in fourth place with 46 medals (16 gold, 14 silver, 16 bronze).
To finish in the top 10, Rivers State won 33 medals (11 gold, 8 silver, 14 bronze) to finish fifth, host Kwara State came sixth with 32 medals (10 gold, 10 silver, 12 bronze), FCT seventh with 36 medals (10 gold, 9 silver, 7 bronze), Ogun eighth with 45 medals (8 gold, 13 silver, 24 bronze), Ondo placed ninth with 30 medals (7 gold, 7 silver, 16 bronze) while Oyo finished tenth with 31 medals (6 gold, 6 silver, 19 bronze).
The trio of Enugu, Gombe and Zamfara State ended the games without a medal to close the table in 35th, 36th and 37th position respectively.
9 year old Gift Torhile from FCT and 10 year old Wilson Bright from Delta were the cynosure of eyes at the games.
The youth games also produced outstanding gymnasts like Obiefuna Munachi, the 13 year old from FCT and Mustapha Oriyomi, another 13 year old from Delta. Weightlifting also produced future stars like Florence Olarinoye from Lagos, Victory Okundia from Edo and Marvelous Chidirim from the FCT and the special lad with hearing impairment, Akinwowon Oladeji who won the 100m, 200m and 400m races for Lagos State.
Speaking at yesterday’s closing ceremony, the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, said “Everything that has a beginning must have an end. It has been an awesome time of competition, bonding, making friends, building intimacy and developing healthy rivalries.
“As a Ministry, what we have seen here in the last few days has reinforced our belief that every effort put into grassroots sports development is a worthy investment and not a waste.”