Delta wins national sports festival — sixth time in a row

Team Delta has emerged as the champions of the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) as curtains fall on the competition on Wednesday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Edo.  

Team Delta topped the medals table after winning 158 gold, 116 silver, and 110 bronze, while Team Edo, the host, came second with 129 gold, 104 silver and 108 bronze. Team Bayelsa finished a distant third with 56 gold, 55 silver, and 58 bronze.

The victory in Benin city is Team Delta’s 6th consecutive NSF triumph.

The 12-day long sporting festival left fans with resounding memories: Bayelsa’s Ifiezegbe Gagbe won 15 medals at the swimming event to emerge the most decorated athlete of the games; Amina Idris of Lagos state also gained global stardom when she won gold in Taekwondo Poomsae despite being heavy with an eight-month-old pregnancy; 10-year-old Stephanie Onusiriuka won three medals in gymnastics.

The games suffered several postponements due to COVID-19 that eventually led to it being staged in April 2021 — a full year from its initial schedule.

It was held and successfully completed despite reports of claims from the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to cancel the event due to financial constraints.

Here are the top 10 states:

                             Gold   Silver  Bronze 

1. Delta               158      116       110
2. Edo                 129      104       108
3. Bayelsa           56        55         58
4. Rivers              33        34         61
5. Lagos               32        40         54
6. Oyo                  31        30         42
7. Akwa Ibom     20        24         44
8. Ogun                16         23        39
9. Kano                11         22         33
10. Imo                  10         13         26