Benin agog as National Sports Festival kicks off with 15 events

The 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) taking place in Benin, Edo state, is set to kick off with 15 events.

Judo, karate, taekwondo, kickboxing, and boxing will take center stage on Sunday as the first events of the sporting showpiece.

Badminton games will be held at Etete gymnasium inside the sports hall while handball and abula, a traditional sport, will take place at the sports complex of the University of Benin.

Meanwhile, at Oba Akenzuwa cultural center on airport road, boxing and kakawa will set up their rings.

Cricket will take place at Adolor college in Ugbowo, Benin City, while judo events will hold at Indoor Hall, University of Benin.

Cycling will go down at Airport road, Aruaga, GRA, Benin/Ifon Road while hockey will be at St. Maria Gorreti College, Dumez Road.

Karate, kickboxing, squash, swimming, kung-fu and tennis events will be at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

Thirty-six states including the federal capital territory (FCT) registered for the NSF.

A total of 9,221 athletes are expected to grace the festival — 5,771 males and 3,450 females.

Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice-President of Nigeria, will declare the festival open on Tuesday,

The sports fiesta will hold from April 2 to 14 in various venues in Benin City, Edo State, after it was postponed four times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.