NSF Delta 2022: National Sports Festival ends as Team Nasarawa focuses on Abeokuta 2024

Amidst so many amusement parks and side attractions, the curtains of the 21st National Sports Festival tagged “Delta 2022” were drawn on Saturday night.

Team Nasarawa ended the sports festival with a total of twenty (20) medals, including seven (7) silver and thirteen (13) bronze medals, finishing 28th in the final medal table.

Silver medalists include Hussaini Ibrahim (Para Table Tennis Men’s Singles), Mohammed Salihu (Men’s Para Powerlifting), Ruth Asuquo (Women’s Weightlifting), Richard Ebidou (Men’s Freestyle Wrestling), Habeeb Obayomi (Men’s) Chioma A Boxing (Women’s Karate) and Saidu Ahmadu (men’s karate).

The bronze medalists are Grace Haruna (Women’s Judo), Mohammed Salihu (Para Powerlifting), Ladi Louisa Iho (Women’s Taekwondo), Agada Elijah (Men’s Taekwondo), Comfort Adakole (Team Golf), Joy Obanla (Women’s Kung Fu), Allu Armstrong (Dats) and Emmanuel Haruna (Wrestling), Salisu Abdullahi (Wrestling).

The others are Shehu Lawal and Sani Yau (Men’s Tennis Doubles), Shehu Lawal and Loveth Ogah (Mixed Tennis Doubles) and Dauda Nasiru (Men’s Karate).

Hopes for Team Nasarawa to defend the gold medals in the men’s 130kg heavyweight wrestling and 42km marathon race after both competitors, Talaram Mamman and Philibus Sharubutu, suffered illness and thigh injury separately.

Delta State won the two-week sports meet, bagging a total of 648 medals, including 320 gold, 200 silver and 128 bronze.

Bayelsa State finished second with a total of 337 medals including 132 gold, 115 silver and 90 bronze while Edo State came third with a total of 339 medals including 78 gold, 94 silver and 167 bronze.

Ogun State in South West Nigeria was announced by President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Sunday Dare, the next host of the National Sports Festival, billed for 2024.

Oyo State was also declared a ‘stand-by’ state in case Ogun is unable to demonstrate readiness for the event for a year.

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