Team Ogun at the 8th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State kicked off its campaign on a brighter start with one silver medal and one bronze medal on the opening day of the sports fiesta.
In the semi-final of the para table tennis girls’ singles, Team Ogun’s Raji Aisha survived a scare against Edogiawere Peculiar of Edo in a thrilling five-set match to reach back-to-back finals at the Youth Games.
Aisha won the first two sets 11-6 and 11-5, but Peculiar fought back, winning the third and fourth sets 12-10 and 11-8.
Aisha, however, sealed the match with an 11-7 win in the final set, resulting in a 3-2 victory and a chance to better her silver medal from last year.
However, Aishat Raji consecutively lost the final encounter to Delta state’s Blessing Obiozor 3-2 with 12-10, 15-13, 12-10 to 14-12, 11-5 to settle for a silver medal.
In another development, 10-year-old Akachukwu I’ma defeated Abia’s Emeka David in straight sets to win the male para table tennis gold for Delta, capping an impressive opening day for the host as Ogun and Kwara states settled for bronze through Ogunyemi Tobi and Mustapha Ridwan.
Earlier, Team Ogun joined their counterparts from other states of the Federation, including FCT, for the ceremonial march past at the prestigious Late Stephen Keshi Stadium, before the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, and Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, alongside dignitaries and spectators from different parts of the nation.
The ceremony commencement of the national multi-sport U-15 fiesta, which is being hosted for the second time by a Southern Nigerian state since its inception in 2013.
Team Ogun athletes and officials were adorned in the breathtaking and eye-catching yellow and green tracksuit to the applause and admiration of thousands of spectators inside the mainbowl.
The Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan Enoh, in his address, welcomed the participants to the host city, emphasizing the importance of the games in the area of sports development both now and in the future.
Also, the Minister said the purpose of games is not only to promote sports but also to promote peace and unity for the boys and girls from faraway states in the North, East, West, and South.
On his part, the Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, said that the development in sports is not just sports performance but is about the development of socioeconomic skills and promoting peace agendas and unity among the states and the nation.
He also said sporting events are declining; there is a need to promote and revive sports in primary and secondary schools in order to catch them young.
The governor said that over 6,000 athletes and about 1000 athletes with special needs individuals are to compete in 36 sports.