By Uzor Odigbo
Hosts Delta and Edo States continue their supremacy duel for medals in the 8th National Youth Games in Asaba.
After a busy and competitive schedule on Sunday, Delta topped the medals’ standings with 18 gold, 7 silver and 10 bronze.
Edo occupied a distant second, winning 9 gold, 5 silver and 9 bronze medals. 12 states are yet to register a medal as of Day 3.
Meanwhile gold medals flowed freely on Day 4 of the Games in Asaba. Daniel Olumide delivered a clutch performance to claim gold for Ondo State in the Boys’ 100m final with a time of 11.34 secs, while Anambra’s Chigozie Rosemary secured the the girls’ title with a gaping time of 12.24secs.
Elsewhere, Godsmind Nelson Eteng timed her final kick to outpace her Plateau State counterpart and breast the tape in the girls’ 1500m, clocking a time of 4:56.61s
After observing Plateau narrowly lose the gold medal in the Girls’ 1500m, David Gyang made sure he avoided a repeat of that, taking the lead after the first lap to win gold in a time of 4:12.11s.
In the Boys’ table tennis singles final Ayoola Usman edged a nail biting all Oyo affair 3-2 against Ahmed Ahyatulahi.
Oyo’s medal rush continued in the girls weightlifting 47kg class where Fathia Owoyele snapped three gold in the snatch, clean and jerk.
Hosts Delta showed dominance after picking up three gold medals in para sports.
Delta’s Akachukwu Ima and Precious Okafor won gold respectively in para table tennis boys’ and girls’ singles events.
In the boys doubles final, the pair of Abubakri Khalid and Mustapha Ridwallulahi of Kwara claimed gold while Edo’s Edogiawerie Peculiar and Ovuema Favour combined to reign supreme in the girls’ category.
Delta’s gold mining continued in the mixed doubles where the pair of Akachukwu Ima and Precious Okafor dominated proceedings to clinch the ultimate prize
Meanwhile, Team Edo has remained stronger in performance as they achieved the unexpected in the midst of the storm on Day 3 of the 2024 National Youth Games’ competition, picking Gold medal in a swimming event through Precious Tissa.
The Gold miner Precious Tissa also won two silver medals, finished the 50m Breaststroke aquatic event in a time of 35 seconds to get the ultimate medal from the deep for Edo.
The Day 3 was indeed, a day of harvest and blessing for Team Edo as they began the day with a gold medal in Cycling after their golden rider Divine Ogbe had reenacted her Day one competition feet, securing a Gold medal in 50km road race.
Ogbe Divine of Edo State won the Gold medal in the 50km female cycling event in a time of 1:21:15:97, while Esther Godwin secured bronze in the 50km road race, adding to her silver she won on Day 1
The winning spirit of Team Edo remains unstoppable as Treasure Omosivwe secured Gold for Edo in high jump with a jump of 162 as Jennifer Osamwengie Efosa went home with silver in the long jump girls for Edo.
Edo female Rugby also registered their name in gold after beating Delta on penalties.The Edo State Rugby Male team had earlier defeated their KWARA counterparts by 19 points to Nill to win Bronze.
The male Cricket team were not left out in the gold mines effort.
In Kung Fu female demonstration,Favour Eboigbe won a bronze medal just as Godstime Alufa did in the male category to keep Edo in the second spot on the medal table.
The football team has qualified from group B along with Delta after thrashing Plateau 4-0 in their second game.
Miracle Odion opened scoring for team Edo in the 7th minute of play. Dickson Osaro scored from the spot in the 40th minute to make it 2-0. The duo added a goal each in the 47th and 53rd minute to seal victory for Edo at the ST. Patrick’s field in Asaba. They suffered a 2-1 defeat in the hands of Delta in their opening match.
The Edo football team will be playing in the semifinals of the competition.
