NSF 2024: Bayelsa Swimmers Shine At National Sports Festival
From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
Swimming headlined Team Bayelsa’s performance in day seven of the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State tagged Gateway Games 2024.
Team Bayelsa clinched four gold, one silver and one bronze medal in day three of the swimming event. Dorcas Oka won gold in the women’s 200m backstroke against her Edo and Rivers opponents who came out second and third positions in the event.
Bayelsa in the men’s 200m backstroke settled for bronze courtesy of Beke Williams with Rivers claiming gold while Delta State finishing second in the keenly contested event.
Dorcas Oka claimed gold in the 50m women’s freestyle event, Ogun and Delta State finished second and third to go home with silver and bronze medals while Bayelsa’s Collins Ebingha clinched silver in the 50m freestyle men’s event.
In the 4x100m mixed double freestyle relay, Doutimi Gagbe, Yellow Yeyeh, Agnes John and Azazi Ayibamieye outperformed Edo, and Delta States to win the ultimate medal.
However in the 4x100m freestyle relay men, team Bayelsa clinched gold at the expense of Ogun and Delta State.
It was a day to remember in athletics as both men and women teams qualified for the finals of the 4x100m relay while Hope Aruya won gold in the women’s high jump to further put smiles on the faces of Bayelsans.
In para-athletics, Goodness Ojo took gold in the men’s 100m T37/38 event while Bayelsa won silver in the men’s singles in tennis. Volleyball equally progressed to the final of the men’s event
Elsewhere, in Judo, Selere Mathias won gold in the women’s 48kg class while the duo of Victory Tontonye and Titilayo Akinleye have qualified for the final of Squash in the female doubles event in the fiesta.
In the meantime, Bayelsa sustained her second place on the medals table after being overtaken by perennial champions, Delta State.
Delta leads the table with 127 medals, comprising 54 gold, 25 silver, and 48 bronze. Second place Bayelsa have amassed a total of 93 medals consisting of 39 gold, 28 silver and 26 bronze according to the official medals table.
Host Ogun dethroned Rivers on third position with 81 medals, comprising 31 gold, 20 silver, 30 bronze medals while Rivers occupied fourth place with 28 gold, 23 silver, 29 bronze medals.
Edo State who surprisedly moved to fifth position after a dominant display in gymnastics and boxing are currently on 27 gold, 58 silver, 53 bronze medals totaling 138 medals.
