…As Enugu hosts 2026 edition
Team Nasarawa has won a total of 18 medals making number 26th as the 22nd National Sports Festival ended in Abeokuta,Ogun State.
The Team competed in 18 sporting events, winning medals including a Gold, 4 Silver, and 13 Bronze at the national competition tagged, “Gateway Games 2024”.
The medalists are: Agada Elijah- gold in the men’s Taekwondo Poomsae demonstration event, Charles Obayi- men’s -85kg Kung-Fu Wushu category, Titkuromi Christopher- +57kg men’s Wrestling event, Hussaini Ibrahim- Men’s Para Table-Tennis Class 6 Standing event and Rita Odede- women’s+65kg Wrestling event; all won silver medals.
The bronze medal category are: Ovey Haruna- men’s 65kg Kung-Fu Wushu event, Beauty Timothy- women’s -52kg Kung-Fu Wushu category, Owulama Akolo- men’s -90kg Kung-Fu Wushu category, Sunmisola Popoola- women’s -48kg Kung-Fu Wushu event and Laadi Ihuo- women’s -53kg Taekwondo.
Others were Mildred Monday-Women’s -62kg Taekwondo event, Christabel Daniel- women’s Karate -62kg category, Hamza Muntari- Karate’s Men’s -60kg category, Armstrong Allu-Dart Men’s 300 Singles category and Muawiya Aliyu- men’s Para Athletics T45-T47 400 Metres’ race.
Also, Madu Daniel- men’s +100kg Judo, Richard Ebidou-men’s+70kg Wrestling event and Blessing Appah- women’s +62kg Wrestling category.
Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State-born International Judo Referee, Mrs Esther Allu, was elected into the Nigeria Judo Referees’ Association and emerged as Financial Secretary after an election conducted by the Association in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Wednesday, 28th May, 2025.
In another development, Nasarawa’s Female Hockey Team, was honoured with an outstanding recognition by the Nigeria Hockey Federation for parading the youngest squad at the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta.
The Zainab Sule- coached side won the Fair Play Award for their commitment and perseverance in the face of more exposed and highly experienced oppositions at the Festival.
During the closing ceremony held on Thursday, the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Chief Bukola Olopade announced Team Delta as overall winner of Festival.
By the feat, the Delta State athletes successfully defended the title they won two years ago in Asaba as host.
They hauled a total of 337 medals, including 126 gold , 100 silver and 111 bronze.
Ogun State finished second with 93 Gold, 65 Silver and 80 Bronze medals while Bayelsa State came 3rd with 92 Gold, 65 silver and 71 bronze medals.
A total of 2139 medals were won at the games with 633 Gold medals, 624 silver and 882 bronze.
Anambra state won the gender balanced award for parading equal number of male and female contingents to the games.
The Voice reports that Enugu State will host the 23rd edition of the Sports Festival in 2026.
