Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has commended Team Edo for their performance at the ongoing 9th National Youth Games(NYG) in Asaba, Delta State, where the state is currently topping the medals table with 19 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze medals.
Okpebholo, in a statement on Tuesday, descrilbed the athletes’ outing as impressive and congratulated them for lifting the state to the top spot in the early stages of the competition.
He assured the athletes, coaches, and officials of continuous government backing to enable them sustain the momentum through the rest of the Games. Edo’s dominance has so far been driven by victories in weightlifting, gymnastics, swimming, and karate.
The state’s female weightlifters swept all nine gold medals in their category. Favour Cornelius (44kg), Esther Amarachi Chijoke (48kg), and Beauty Akpore (53kg) each won three gold medals.
In gymnastics, Wisdom Ikede secured three gold medals, while Aliu Solomon added one gold medal and Ocheke Excel picked up a silver. In swimming, Tissa Precious won two gold medals in the 50m freestyle, and Edo’s 4x100m relay team took silver. Edo also claimed gold in Karate through Desmond Izevbuwa Eroirewaen, who triumphed in the 50kg male Kumite.
The Governor said the state government would continue to provide facilities, training, and welfare support for young athletes as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots sports development. He urged Team Edo to remain focused as the competition, featuring 37 sporting categories, progresses in Asaba.
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