Berates win at all cost syndrome of some states
Unperturbed by the fifth position of Lagos State at the recently concluded National Sports Festival, Tagged Edo 2020, Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Sola Aiyepeku insists the aim of the festival was developmental and for him Lagos State would not depart from that objective.
“The main thing for us in Lagos State is developmental and for the young athletes to see that they have a platform where they can perform. We will not rest on our oars for us to continue to provide that platform for the athletes not just to represent themselves, but the state and the country so that they can make good progress in their careers,” Aiyepeku said.
Wed Apr 14 2021
For the second day, violence again erupted yesterday during the boxing bout between Team Ogun and Team Lagos at the Oba Akenzua cultural centre in Benin City.
Fans supporting the boxer representing Ogun State, Kasali Abayomi felt he was cheated by the referee to favour his opponent, Shittu Afolabi of Team Lagos in the 52kg bout.
Although the angry fans threw chairs and tables into the ring, the referee and judges stood their grounds and declared the Lagos boxer winner of the contest in a 3-2 split decision.
However, Ogun State boxing officials have submitted a protest letter backed with the bout video to the organisers for the decision to be reversed.
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Gbenga Arowora, Press Officer, Ministry of Youth and Sports Ogun State, says they have written a petition to the Local Organising Committee of the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival over what they perceived as poor officiating in the boxing event on Tuesday.
There was pandemonium at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre after the bout between Lagos boxer Shittu Afolabi and Ogun boxer Kasali Abayomi in the 52kg, which ended 3-2 in favour of Team Lagos.
Speaking with The PUNCH, Arowora said a petition had been sent to the LOC to have them take a look at the result.
Delta State’s Grace Nwokocha showed no sign of relenting as she romped to the 200m women’s title at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Benin City. She had earlier won the women’s 100m gold at the weekend.
Nwokocha who last month qualified for the 100m event of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games clocked a 22.79secs Personal Best as she secured the 200m Olympics ticket also.
Bayelsa’s Tima Godbless, who has been growing in confidence since her bronze medal in the 100m, ran a new Personal Best (PB) of 23.65secs to place second, with Delta’s Praise Ofoku also getting on the PB train to take the bronze in 23.74secs.
In boxing, Ondo State heavyweight boxer, Adedeji Adegbola knocked out his opponent, Oluwafemi Adetoye of Yobe state in a record 15 seconds of their first-round heavyweight boxing bout.
With the win at the Oba Akenzuwa cultural centre, Adegbola has qualified for the semi-finals of the heavyweight category and placed him in the medals range, alongside five teammates vying in other weight categories.
Similarly, Rivers State have increased their medal haul with Stella Kingsley winning 3 Gold medals in the Women 49kg Weightlifting event.
Stella snatched 74kg, Clean and Jerked 105kg a record in (49KG) to pick all the medals.
In the same vein, Team Lagos men have defeated Team Delta in Cricket 136 runs to 89 runs all out in 21 overs.