By Anne Azuka
Team Nasarawa has so far won three medals – one Silver from Para-Table Tennis and two from Taekwondo events; Poomsae Individual and Poomsae Team Event.
The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Amb. Lucky Isaac Yargwa disclosed this at the Stephen Keshi stadium, Asaba in a Press Conference.
Yargwa expressed optimism that Team Nasarawa would before the end of the Festival, be among the top ten highest medal-winning States.
According to Commissioner, Some of our athletes are already in the medal stage in some sports, and before the end of today, we should have more medals in our cabin.
“There are many other sporting events we are yet to commence participation in. Our athletes and coaches are more than motivated to deliver results.
” Today, Team Nasarawa came to Asaba with the largest number of contingent, comprising 181 athletes, 33 coaches, 8 referees, 27 sports secretaries, 20 accompanying officials, 2 medical personnel and 6 security details.
“We are participating in 27 sporting events. In all of these sports, we are very confident of surpassing our previous medal records”, he stressed.
Nasarawa Commissioner therefore commended the organizers of the Sports Festival, including the Delta State Government, the Federal Government and Partners for ensuring that this Event doesn’t only hold, but meets the required standard.
“The facilities are wonderful. The coordination is welcoming, and the hostel accommodation, especially for my contingent members, is excellent.
” Even though you can’t guarantee a perfect Event, but I must say Delta State has fulfilled its promise of hosting a historic Sports Festival, and this is evident to everyone”, he said.
Yargwa also called on the organizers to put search lights in and around Event Centres to ensure that the aims and objectives of the Sports Festival are not eroded by selfish stakeholders whose motive is to favour some States at the expense of others, probably due to pecuniary gains.
“They must stick to the rules and regulations guiding the competition and ensure that talents, irrespective of the State they come from, are discovered and be nurtured to represent the country at international sports meet.
” Also, peaceful co-existence, love for one another and acceptance of social, cultural, religious and economic values should and must be preached, because that’s why the Sports Festival was established”, he added.
He disclosed that Governor Abdullahi Sule, has redeemed the sum of 16.5 million pledge he made to athletes who won medals at last year’s Sports Festival in Edo State.
“This is to further boost the morale of the athletes to redouble their efforts at this year’s edition of the Event.
“As a Government, we prioritize the welfare of our people, and we will continue to improve it to meet acceptable global standard.
“We are deliberate in building sports infrastructure and supporting human resource development for optimum performance and healthy competition wherever we find ourselves.
“In the 2021 edition of the Sports Festival in Edo State, Team Nasarawa won a total of 22 medals, which include 5 gold, four silver and 13 bronze medals, and finished 18th out of 36 States and FCT, Abuja, on the medals’ table.
