Delta win again as Edo 2020 festival ends The Punch
Ebenezer Bajela, Benin After 12 days of intense competition in 39 events, Delta State again emerged champions of the 20th National Sports Festival tagged Edo 2020 in Benin City, to extend their dominance at the event.
The sporting fiesta ended with a colourful closing ceremony that had live musical performances spiced with the relay finals at the spectators at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
However, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was scheduled to declare the event closed, and sports minister, Sunday Dare, were notable absentees at the grand ceremony, which displayed the rich cultural heritage of the Edo people.
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• Champions Team Delta with the NSF trophy during the closing ceremony of Edo 2020 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City .on Wednesday. (Inset: Governor Obaseki and Joeboy at the closing ceremony)
Photo: Ebenezer Bajela
Ebenezer Bajela, Benin
After 12 days of intense competition in 39 events, Delta State again emerged champions of the 20th National Sports Festival tagged Edo 2020 in Benin City, to extend their dominance at the event.
The sporting fiesta ended with a colourful closing ceremony that had live musical performances spiced with the relay finals at the spectators at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
Students performing calisthenics display at the opening ceremony of the 19th National Sports Festival in Abuja, Thursday
Team Rivers yesterday increased her medal haul at the ongoing National Sports Festival tagged Edo 2020 in Benin, Edo State.
It was a commanding victory for Team Rivers in the finals of the Men’s Beach Volleyball as they defeated Team Imo 2-0.
Chidiebere Okeke and Emenike Ezike showed class in the two sets leading from start to finish as they won by 21-16.
Speaking after the victory, Okeke told reporters that it was a great game against tough opponent but happy winning the title.
Nigeria’s Olympic swimmer, Rachael Tonjor has led Team Edo to win a gold medal in the 4x100medley relay women.
The feat brings their total number of gold in swimming to four at the national sports festival, a huge improvement from their performance at the Abuja 2018 games where they failed to win a medal.
Edo were stripped of medals in Abuja as a result of the double registration of their captain Tonjor and Faith Edorodion.
Team delta finished second in the event while Bayelsa claimed Bronze in the event.
In weightlifting, Rivers state showed class in the 49kg event as Stella Kingsley dominated the snatch, clean, and jerk class to claim all three gold medals.
Rivers Commissioner for Sports, Hon Boma Iyaye (middle); Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Sir Honour Sirawoo (right) and ex-international, Victor Ikpeba during the inspection of re-construction and re-grassing work at the main bowl and football training pitches of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex in Port Harcourt.
Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye, insisted yesterday that Team Rivers’ ambition is to better her last performance in Abuja in 2019.
Speaking immediately after the Opening Ceremony on Tuesday night, Iyaye who came to cheer the team to victory, praised Edo State for a befitting opening ceremony.
“First, I want to commend the government of Edo State for a wonderful job, it was an awesome event considering several postponements of the festival. I think they have done a very good job with the opening ceremony and the facilities they have provided as host,” observed the chief sports officer of Rivers State.