The camp of team Bayelsa at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta State bubbled to life on Friday as athletes raked in the medals in various events.
The 21st National Sports Festival has been characterized by poor organisation, lack of shuttle buses to venues and inability of the media to access the medal table after day three of the spectacle.
Taekwondo gave team Bayelsa the first gold medal of the showpiece in poomsae male with outstanding display from Oluwasesan Abodunrin, they also got silver in individual poomsae female, and two bronze in individual poomsae male.
Golf recorded the second gold for Bayelsa as Solomon Ideriah won gold in the stroke play to clinch the gold. Cycling had earlier given Bayelsa a silver and bronze as cycling event continues on Saturday.
Festus Zekiesuevie and Anointing Moses won silver medal in para table tennis while Godspower Moses and Taritimi Akene settled for a bronze medal .
In deaf table tennis Bobo Oziri and Begold Ebinyo also won bronze to clinch three bronze in deaf table tennis.
It was a bad start for the State female football team as they were pipped 1-0 by Kaduna State at the Ogwashi Ukwu stadium while in male football, Bayelsa and Lagos State played out a goalless draw.
In Basketball, hosts Delta beat Bayelsa 27-24 despite controlling the game, they are now focused on the next encounter against Ondo State while Delta will face Abia, Rivers will battle Nasarawa State.
Team Bayelsa have amassed total of 14 medals comprising 3 Gold, 3 Silver and 8 bronze medals as of the time of filling this report.
Bayelsa State Taekwondo coach, Judith Darusha -Williams in an interview said she was elated with the performance of the athletes, saying that the result has opened the floodgate of gold for Bayelsa.
She gave an assurance to the people of Bayelsa State that more medals would be won to surpass the record in Edo 2020 held in Benin City.
Two taekwondo athletes, Oluwasesan Abodunrin and Osajie Ruth said they were happy to represent Bayelsa in this year’s Sports Festival, pointing out that team had good preparation for the fiesta having finished third in the last edition.
In the meantime, commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Daniel Igali has assured Bayelsans of podium finish in the 21st National Sports Festival.
Igali while assessing the performance of the team said the contingent is in Asaba to compete for medal in every sports, explaining that the allowances and athletes entitlement have been paid.
He announced an instant reward of two hundred thousand naira for every gold medal won, one hundred thousand for silver and fifty thousand naira for bronze medal aside the normal government reward for athletes who will make the state proud.
