Delta set to defend National Youth Games position
The Delta Sports Commission has said the state will win the 3rd edition of the National Youth Games billed to hold in Ilorin, from Sept. 7 to Sept. 17.
Chairman of the Commission, Chief Tonobok Okowa, who made the declaration at a media briefing Thursday in Asaba, said the state had prepared to repeat the feat it achieved in Abuja in 2013.
“As a state, we are fully prepared to win the games. Delta state is the defending champion of the National Youth games, having won the maiden edition of the games in Abuja in 2013.
“At the Abuja edition of the games, Delta came top of the table with 20 gold, 8 silver and 10 bronze medals,” Okowa said.
The chairman further revealed that Team Delta has gone far in terms of preparations to enable it defend the title.
He said that the state sport commission would not field over age players as it would strictly abide by the rules specified by organizers of the games.
“There will be no room for over aged players and also, all the athletes for the games must reside in the state. Delta indigenes living outside the state will be barred from participating.
“To be qualified for the games, the athletes must be in secondary schools in the state. Anybody who is not qualified will be dismissed,” the chairman said.
Okowa recalled that at the maiden edition of the game in 2013, Delta came top with 20 golds, 8 silvers and 8 bronze medals, a feat, which was repeated at the second edition with a medal haul of nine gold, seven silver and 10 bronze medals.
He disclosed that the commission has constituted an 18-member Organizing Committee to properly prepare the athletes and ensure their success.
Okowa said: “Team Delta as defending champion is set to go to Ilorin and do what she knows best. The athletes and officials are in top form as the governor has provided virtually all the needs of our contigents for effective participation.”
He said the athletes were presently being camped in Asaba, Oghara, Agbor and Lagos, adding that the state contingent to the Ilorin games would be taking part in 25 sporting events at the games.
According to him, Delta would be fielding athletes in female volleyball, male and female hockey, basketball, scrabble, wrestling, Volleyball and Badminton.
Others are, Karate, Squash, Table Tennis, Chess, Golf, Boxing, Taekwondo, Swimming, Cycling, Judo, Para-Athletics, Gymnastics, Weightlifting and Lawn Tennis, Trado-Ayo and Kokowa.
