Edo, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Niger and Oyo shine in weightlifting at National Youth Games
Team Edo proved unstoppable in weightlifting at the 9th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, finishing as overall champions.
Edo won 12 medals — 9 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze — with all their gold medals coming from the women’s division. Favour Cornelius (44kg), Esther Amarachi Chijoke (48kg), and Beauty Akpore (53kg) each swept three gold medals to lead their state to the top.
Team Akwa Ibom came second with 9 medals (5 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze). Destiny Okon Bassey (56kg) claimed two golds, while Goodness Samuel Okon (65kg) completed a clean sweep of three golds.
Team Abia finished third thanks to Vitalis Nnaji Chiemerie, who dominated the men’s 60kg event by winning all three gold medals.
Niger’s Abdulsalam Kamaldeen made his mark with a gold in the men’s 56kg clean and jerk, lifting 91kg.
Oyo’s Fathia Toluwalase Owoyele was another standout, earning three silver medals in the women’s 48kg category.
In total, 12 states won medals, but Edo, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Niger and Oyo stood out as the top performers in Asaba.
Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) President, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul Aladi, praised the lifters and promised that the top talents will be groomed for bigger stages. Technical official Sefiya Onubaye Ahuozia also hailed the competition, saying the results show Nigeria’s weightlifting has a bright future.
