NYG 2023: Edo finishes strong as Benue, Sokoto returns home without a medal

Team Edo brightened its chances of finishing among the top states in the 7th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, after winning two gold medals in male and female boxing events.

In the 46kg male category final, Edo boxer, Habeelahi Jamaideen defeated his Lagos State challenger, Bolariwa Michael in a split decision of 3-2 to win the gold medal.

Ameerat Abike Abubakar of Edo out-punched Mayowa Ayomide of Lagos in the female 44kg category to clinch the gold medal, while her opponent settled for a silver medal.

The two medals have taken the total medals won so far by Edo in NYG to 47 after winning 20 gold, 15 silver, and 13 bronze medals respectively.

It would be recalled the duo of Faithful Aliat Musa and Lucky Ebeh of Edo confirmed their dominance in the special athletics events (deaf athletics) after clinching two gold in the 200m boys and girls athletics race.

Team Ogun and Bayelsa on the other hand won the silver and bronze medals respectively in the boys’ race.

Faithful Okhajiangbe also of Edo settled for silver in the female 200m race, and team Kwara won the bronze medal.

Meanwhile, the contingent from two states, Benue and Sokoto, may return home empty-handed after failing to win a single medal in the competition.

As at the close of events on Saturday, Benue and Sokoto were the only states out of the 30 states that were yet to register their names on the medals table.

On Tuesday evening, Enugu, Adamawa, Benue, Bauchi, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Sokoto, and Taraba states were without any colour of medal on the table.

But the situation took a new dimension for seven states, Adamawa, Bauchi, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Taraba soon afterward, as their athletes increased their work rate at competition grounds, which gave them medals.

Enugu State made it to the medal table on Thursday evening when Ikenna Ndubisi clinched the first silver medal in wrestling.

The kid wrestler lost the final 52kg freestyle wrestling event to Eguda Perelade of Delta State, with Abdullahi Adamu of Bauchi and Nabil Al Hassan of Kano settling for the bronze medals.

The hosts, Delta, Edo, and Lagos have shown that they are the states to beat in these events.

The defending champions, Delta State was topping the table with 36 gold, 25 silver, and 23 bronze medals. Lagos is second with 18 gold, 12 silver and 15 bronze medals, while Edo State is third with 17 gold, 15 silver and 13 bronze. Bayelsa State is in the fourth position with 17 gold, 6 silver, and 14 bronze medals.