TEAM Edo confirmed their superiority in weightlifting at the ongoing 9th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, emerging overall champions with a commanding display that left other states trailing.
Edo secured an impressive haul of 9 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals (12 in total) to top the medals table. Their closest challengers, Team Akwa Ibom, finished second with 5 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze, while Abia came third with 3 gold. Team Niger placed fourth with 1 gold and 2 silver medals.
The battle for positions further down the table saw Enugu, Oyo, and the FCT share fifth spot with three silver medals apiece. Lagos followed in eighth with three medals (2 silver, 1 bronze), while Imo finished ninth with 1 silver and 2 bronze. Plateau, Delta, and Osun completed the top 12.
Edo’s dominance was most emphatic in the women’s weight categories, where they swept all nine gold medals on offer. Standout lifters included Favour Cornelius (44kg), Esther Amarachi Chijoke (48kg), and Beauty Akpore (53kg), each of whom won three gold medals.
In the men’s division, Akwa Ibom asserted their strength by winning five of the nine gold medals. Destiny Okon Bassey (56kg) secured two golds, while Goodness Samuel Okon (65kg) bagged three. Team Abia also shone through Vitalis Nnaji Chiemerie, who swept three golds in the 60kg category. Niger’s Abdulsalam Kamaldeen made his mark with a clean and jerk lift of 91kg to claim gold in the men’s 56kg.
Other impressive performances included Oyo’s Fathia Toluwalase Owoyele, who won three silver medals in the women’s 48kg; Enugu’s Aguji Michael Chiemerie (65kg) and FCT’s Esther Chidalu Ezenwa (44kg), both with three silvers; and Lagos’ Chinaza Cecilia Ezenwa (53kg), who added two silvers and a bronze.
Imo’s Victory Maduabuchi Iwuoha contributed one silver and two bronze in the men’s 60kg, Plateau’s Dach Veirat Dachoaaom picked up a silver and bronze in the women’s 53kg, while Osun ended their campaign with five bronze medals.
Commending the athletes, President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Dr Ibrahim Aladi, hailed their efforts and assured that the new talents discovered in Asaba would be nurtured for future national and international representation.
NWF Technical Official, Sefiya Onubaye Ahuozia, also lauded the quality of competition, expressing confidence that Nigeria’s future in weightlifting remains bright.
…Delta Finish Weightlifting With Five Bronze Medals
BY EBI NIEKETIEN
TEAM Delta wrapped up their participation in the weightlifting event of the 2025 National Youth Games in Asaba with five bronze medals in the female category, while their male counterparts finished without a medal.
The medals came through the efforts of Goodness Ogodo, who won three of the medals in the 48kg category, while Jennifer Odivwri and Joan won the other two medals in the 44kg and 53kg respectively.
Speaking with The Pointer, two of the weightlifters expressed mixed feelings about their performance.
According to Ogodo, “I did not feel too happy that I only won bronze medals because I aimed to win the gold. I will keep working harder, and believe I will perform better in future competitions.”
For Odivwri, this was her debut outing in weightlifting, and she expressed hope of having a sponsor that would help improve her future performances.
In her words, This is my first time, and I did not train properly for it. I just started training four months ago. I actually need sponsors. I am from Warri, but I am based in Asaba because I cannot do sports there as the stadium is under renovation.
‘’Having a sponsor will help me perform better because sometimes I come to training without eating and it affected my performance during this competition. But I am grateful I still won a bronze medal, and I hope to do better next time.
While the female lifters ensured Delta had a presence on the medal table, the male category ended their campaign without a medal.
