NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
NSF: Team FCT soars in badminton, Chairman pledges devt of sport
Sports

NSF: Team FCT soars in badminton, Chairman pledges devt of sport

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By Muhyideen Jimoh

The Chairman of FCT Badminton Association, Mohammed Bappa has pledged to fast-track the growth of the sport in FCT through robust grassroots development tournaments.

He made the pledge on Saturday during the medals presentation at the ongoing 2024 National Sports Festival (NSF) in Ogun, where FCT won medals in Badminton and para badminton.

“I want to commend the FCT badminton players for their resilience, we have so far won gold in the para event and bronze in mixed double.

“We are still expecting more medals in different categories,” he said.

Bappa said that the FCT has been able to discover more talents that will be nurtured to stardom going forward.

“In this Games, we have discovered more talents and even in the FCT we have organised many programmes where all these young boys and girls will taken out of the streets to play badminton,” he said.

The chairman disclosed that plans has been concluded to begin the Area Councils Badminton Championship to consolidate on the achievements of the NSF and discover more budding talents.

“We have started preparations for the championship before the NSF, it  was only the festival that slowed us down.

“After the NSF we are going to finalise plans for the area council game,” he added.

Bappa said that the association has written to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on the need to support sports, especially badminton, and was confident of getting favourable response. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

NSF: Team Ogun wins gold in 4×400 mixed relay
Sports

NSF: Team Ogun wins gold in 4×400 mixed relay

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By Abiodun Lawal

Team Ogun on Friday won the 4×400 mixed relay at the ongoing National Sports Festival tagged “Gateway Games 2024”.

Speaking with  the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the race at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in  Abeokuta, the Coach of the team , Saheed Akinpelu, applauded the athletes for the feat achieved.

NAN reports the winners include Gafar Badmus, Tosin Adeloye, Samson Nathaniel and Toheebat Jimoh.

He explained that they won the race through dedication and hardwork , saying that the state government tried by putting the athletes in camp.

” At the same time am still appealing to the government , assuming we spent like three months in camp , we would have even done better than this.

” We used all our strategies in order to defeat states like Bayelsa, Delta and other good states. Our athletes are humble and they listen to instructions .

” That tells you there’s love in camping. I am on top of the world, we started with a gold this morning in the walking race and now a gold medal in relay . It is fantastic and a good result for us,” he said.

He expressed optimism that more gold medals would still be won by the state , saying that the athletes had worked hard and prayed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Edo and Lagos came second and third respectively. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

NSF Day 6: Delta leapfrogs Bayelsa, Ogun climb to 4th on medal table
Sports

NSF Day 6: Delta leapfrogs Bayelsa, Ogun climb to 4th on medal table

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By Peter Amine

Team Delta has leapfrogged Team Bayelsa on the medals table at the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF) in Ogun.

Team Delta amassed 35 gold, 12 silver and 29 bronze, bringing the state’s total medals to 76.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the official medals table of the NSF tagged ‘Gateway Games 2024’ indicated that Bayelsa is now second with 33 gold, 16 silver and 17 bronze medals after five days on top of the table.

Meanwhile, Rivers has maintained its third position with 17 gold, 13 silver and 13 bronze medals.

Team Ogun garnered 12 gold, 14 silver and 18 bronze medals to usurp Oyo in the fourth position, while Oyo dropped to fifth with 12 gold, 12 silver and 18 bronze medals.

The medals log at the time of filing this report indicated that a total of 516 medals have so far been won by states participating in the festival.

NAN reports that two states, Borno and Kebbi, have made it to the medals table with one bronze each.

The NSF is a biennial multi-sport event organised by the Federal Government.

It brings together athletes from all 36 states and the FCT to compete in various sports, promoting national unity, sportsmanship, and excellence across Nigeria.

STATE TEAM  GOLD. SILVER BRONZE  TOTAL

1. Delta 35 12 29 76

2. Bayelsa 33 16 17 66

3.Rivers  17 13 13 43

4.Ogun 12 14 18 44

5.Oyo 12 12 18 42

6. Osun 10 1 3 14

7. Edo 8 38 31 77

8. Lagos 7 10 16 33

9. Akwa Ibom 4 2 3 9

10.Plateau 3 3 8 14

11.Cross River 3 1 1 5

12.Invited United Athelete (IJA) 2 5 1 8

13.Abia 2 4 12 18

14.Anambra 1 5 3 9

15. Imo 1 2 6 9

16.FCT 1 2 5 8

17.Nasarawa 1 1 6 8

18.Kano 0 3 6 9

19.Niger 0 2 1 3

20. Ekiti 0 1 3 4

21. Kwara 0 1 3 4

22.Ondo 0 1 2 3

23.Kaduna 0 1 1 2

24. Bauchi 0 1 0 1

25. Benue 0 0 5 5

26. Borno 0 0 1 1

27. Kebbi 0 0 1 7

TOTAL m 152 151 213 516

NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

NSF: NSC DG hails ‘Junior Athletes’ impact at Gateway Games
Sports

NSF: NSC DG hails ‘Junior Athletes’ impact at Gateway Games

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By Muhyideen Jimoh

The Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade has hailed the performance of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival(NSF) in Ogun.

Olopade,  who was visibly happy spoke after the medal presentation to IJA swimmer Aidan Abili who has won three medals so far in the swimming competition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the young swimming sensation  won two silver and one bronze.

The NSC introduced the IJA initiative to establish a unique and scientific pathway for transitioning junior athletes to elite status, thereby addressing a gap that existed in Nigerian sports.

Olopade said that the impact the young athletes were making shows a bright future for Nigerian sports.

“It gladdens my heart to see the immediate impact of this new IJA project we initiated at the NSC.

“We decided to give these kids an opportunity to compete at the elite level and so far they are proving that age is only numbers.

“With the performances we are seeing in this Festival, one can only wonder what they will turn in in the years ahead with even more exposure.

” They have shown zero fears at this Games and this is quite commendable,” he said

Abili shortly after the medal presentation thanked  the NSC for the opportunity afforded the junior athletes to feature at the NSF.

“I have not participated at this level before. On behalf of the other IJA athletes, I thank the NSC for this opportunity.

” I have learnt quite a lot here. This exposure will surely help me in my career,” he said.

He promised to take advantage of the Gateway Games participation to put Nigeria on the podium in future global events.

“I have my eyes now on the Youth Olympics. After that I will target the Olympics in the years ahead.

” I will do my best to make sure I put Nigeria on the podium in appreciation of this opportunity,” he added.

Abili, a triple gold medalist at the 2024 National Youth Games, won two silver medals in the 50m backstroke and 100m backstroke and bronze in the 200m backstroke.

NAN reports that the IJA are 12th on the medal table with 2 gold, 5 silver and 1 bronze, with a total of 8 medals (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

NSF: Ogun Govt. unveils mascot, logo, theme song 
Sports

NSF: Ogun Govt. unveils mascot, logo, theme song 

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By Abiodun Lawal

The Ogun Government has unveiled the mascot, logo and theme song for the 2024 National Sports Festival, also known as Gateway Games 2024.

At the unveiling ceremony in Abeokuta on Tuesday evening, Gov. Dapo Abiodun said that state was ready to deliver a befitting National Sports Festival holding from May  16 to May 30.

Abiodun , represented by his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said that the festival would be a reference point in the history of the games.

”We are ready to raise the bar significantly, close to two decades that Ogun last hosted the multi sports event.

”The mascot reflects the energy and cultural heritage of the good people of Ogun.” he said.

The governor lauded the Local Organising Committee for working round the clock in order to ensure that success was achieved.

He said the state government had made significant investments in the sporting facilities, which he believed would stand the test of time even beyond the games.

Abiodun assured team Ogun athletes that the state was solidly behind them, while encouraging citizens to actively participate and also welcome guests with kindness before, during and after the games.

He described sports as a unifying tool, adding that it remained a stepping stone for athletes aiming for global recognition and glory.

Abiodun called for support from stakeholders, expressing the need for all hands to be on deck in order to achieve the desired goals.

” The 2024 edition will raise the bar through innovative ideas and world-class preparations that will redefine the entire festival experience.

” The theme song, composed by Dr Bayo Adepetun, and the mascot, designed by a creative team from the state’s Ministry of Culture.

” The symbolic elements reflect the energy, cultural heritage, and aspirations of the good people of Ogun,” he said.

NAN reports that the sports festival, the 26th edition, is a biennial multi-sports event, brings together thousands of athletes from Nigeria’s 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory to celebrate sportsmanship, national unity and sporting excellence.

The festival, a celebration of Nigeria’s rich sports and cultural heritage, is billed to feature athletes competing in 33 sporting events. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

NSF: NSC begins media accreditation for Gateway Games
Sports

NSF: NSC begins media accreditation for Gateway Games

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By Muhyideen Jimoh

The National Sports Commission (NSC), has announced the opening of media accreditations for the coverage of the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged: ‘Gateway Games’ in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highly anticipated Games will be held from May 16 to May 30.

Mrs Kehinde Ajayi, Director Information, NSC, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

She advised interested media practitioners outside Ogun to send in their full names, medium, telephone number, email address and a passport photograph to Gatewaygames2024media@gmail.com

She said that host journalists in Ogun have a separate accreditation process which has been duly communicated.

“The Media Accreditation for the Gateway Games has officially opened from Saturday April 12th and will officially close on April 19th.

“While the National Sports Commission through the Media sub committee for the Games will love to accommodate every applicant for Accreditation.

“It is however very important to inform all intending applicants that registration for Accreditation does not automatically guarantee approval of such Application,” she said.

NAN reports that as preparations intensify for the games, the NSC on Thursday inaugurated 19 sub-committees to ensure the successful hosting of the event.

The festival which is a celebration of Nigeria’s rich sports and cultural heritage is expected to host about 15, 000 athletes and officials in 33 sporting events.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Remi Koleoso/Yakubu Uba

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