Its gold rush for the Heartbeat of the Nation on Day 6

...As Games enters Day 7

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Asaba 

  

  

  

It was gold rush for Team Edo on Day 6 of the 9th National Youth Games, ongoing in Asaba, the Deltaq State capital.

The 'Heartbeat of the Nation' as the sports loving state is affectionately called, secured gold in beach volleyball, athletics and judo.

At the Anglican Girls Grammar School, the duo of Gift Iwobi and Odoni Esther brushed aside Akwa Ibom 2-0 (21-16, 17-8) in the semi-final before defeating Team Oyo 2-1 in a tense final to record a gold medal.

In Athletics, Tejiri Ugoh delivered a rip-roaring performance in the girls 100m sprint, breezing past hosts, Delta State, Ogun, Kaduna Ondo, Bayelsa and Abia Start to claim top honours with a time of 11.72 seconds.

Delta State duo of Chukwuma Blessing and Ufouma Merit completed the podium in the girls 100m under the 12 second mark.

Following Ugoh's footsteps, Treasure Omosivwe clinched a gold medal in the girls High Jump.

In Whoshu Kung Fu, Edo State' Eboigbe Favour, took second in the girls category using the broadsword technique, while Ogun State won gold.

In the boys category, Edo State born, Alufa Godstime, mined bronze for the state, behind gold medalist Ogun State and Epowede Magnate Bolou-Yeifrom Bayelsa State who took silver.

Team Edo demonstrated impressive skill and determination in the judo events, securing a total of five medals — 2 gold and 3 bronze — across different weight categories.

In the 36kg female category, Chioma Atonwa delivered a dominant performance to claim the gold medal, with Yobe taking silver and Ogun settling for bronze.

In the -40kg male category, Emmanuel Ojechide Abel fought his way to a bronze medal, while Kano clinched gold and Delta took silver.

In the 32kg female category, Gift Idemudia added another bronze to Team Edo’s tally. Delta secured gold in this category, followed by Abia with silver.

In boxing, which is happening at St. Patrick’s College, Lawal Abdulmalik beat his Kwara opponent 3-2 in the 42kg male category to qualify for the finals, while Lanre Adebayo dominated Enugu’s representative 4-1 in the 44kg division to also book a final spot.

Elsewhere, Bright Ita advanced to the Round of 8 in female singles badminton after defeating Rivers State, while in the female 40kg shot put para-athletics event, Taiwo Silifa Arogundade secured bronze behind Kwara (gold) and Delta (silver).

Heavy rain disrupted the T20 cricket semi-final between Edo and Oyo, forcing its postponement to Thursday, September 4, along with the finals. The female 3rd-place match is scheduled for tomorrow.

The Edo State Sports Commission Chairman, Hon. Desmond Enabulele, was elated by the athletes’ resilience, describing the win as “a reflection of Governor Okpebholo’s visionary leadership and grassroots sports development.”

He further applauded the fairness of the Games, noting the absence of bias: “This is how a tournament should be — devoid of unwarranted influence, unlike past experiences.”

With the Games nearing conclusion, Edo remains in a strong position to finish among the top states, as its athletes continue to show grit across multiple events.

FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG'S coverage of the 9th National Youth Games, is proudly supported by:

★ The Executive Director, Sports Development and Operations, Edo State Sports Commission, MRS. SABINA CHIKERE 

★ The initiator of the Emmanuel Egbele Annual Scrabble Tournament, (EEAST), EMMANUEL EGBELE

★ The CEO Front-Page Couture, CHARLES UZAMERE

★ The President of Scrabble Las Vegas, DR. MUSA OLASUPO