Igali in a solidarity message, said the Youth Games offer the state opportunity to discover new set of champions that will represent the state and Nigeria at large in international sporting events.
The world and Olympic champion maintained that the importance of grassroots events that offer developmental growth can never be over emphasized as he noted the Youth Games is a positive avenue that should be encouraged.
While urging the athletes to be good ambassadors of the state, Igali urged them to compete fairly, stressing that at this age, it’s all about getting the basics right.
Despite the Youth Games being a developmental programme, Igali equally stated that the Bayelsa contingents are in Asaba to compete squarely.
“I want to set the record straight Youth Games is beyond winning laurels for us although we would be happy to win, but it’s about the future of these young athletes,” he said.
“That being said we are in Asaba to compete just as everyone else and we hope to give a good account of ourselves.”
“The athletes know what Bayelsa State has become in the sports industry, and we encourage them to continue in that winning trajectory”.
“I wish them best of luck in Asaba as they represent the State and our Ijaw culture.” Igali said.
The just-concluded 2023 National Youth Games threw a much-needed spotlight on the pool of upcoming sporting talents from which Nigeria could draw to fly its flag in both amateur and professional sports in the near future. TUNDE LIADI writes that the country’s short and long-term prospects in competing favourably with the rest of the sporting world look bright with the new discoveries of youthful talents at the 2023 National Youth Games.
They came. They saw. They conquered. That is the story of the winning crop of talented young Nigerians who did sporting battle with their compatriots from all over the federation at the just-concluded National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.
From weightlifting to swimming, taekwondo to wrestling, shooting to gymnastics, among others, the competition was fierce and only a few returned to their states as heroes by beating the field to the prizes at stake.
While personal victories were well and duly celebrated by these new kids on the block featured in the NATIONSPORT overview of winners at the games, their triumphs are significant for national pride through the promises they showed and the hopes they hold out for a bright sporting future for Nigeria as a country.
Joy Nathan (Shooting)
Joy Nathan was introduced to Shooting by her father who officiates the game and it took her time to develop interest in the sport.
In her maiden outing at the games, Nathan, who represented Team FCT Abuja, claimed two medals – gold and bronze.
Following this great start, a delighted Nathan stated: “I feel good and very excited. My father is an official in the Shooting event and he encouraged me to use the sport as a pastime. I started it when I was 12 and I liked it. This is my first competition. I would like to win more gold medals with better performance.”
The young shooter dreams big and is eager to represent the country at major international competitions in the future. “I see myself representing Nigeria in the African Youth Games in the future. Shooting is a very good sport. It helps improve sight, hand posture and so on,” Nathan disclosed.
Chibuike Oranye (Taekwondo)
Chibuike Oranye claimed two gold medals for Anambra in the taekwondo event. He comes from a sports-loving family. Oranye’s father introduced him to taekwondo and a relation fanned his interest along the way too.
“I feel good winning two gold medals for Anambra. My father introduced me to taekwondo but it was Barrister Bon Jude Nwafor who made the interest grow because of my parents’ interest in sports. My mother used to be a long jumper and so it was easy for my parents to support my interest in the sport. I hope to represent Nigeria on the big stage in the future,” Oranye said.
Esther Ezenwa (Weightlifting)
Esther Ezenwa’s performance in the weightlifting event won two medals (gold and bronze) for Abia state.
Revealing that her passion in the sport is from her mother who is a former athlete, the young lifter vowed to build on her performance in Delta,
“I am very happy to make my parents and Abians proud after winning the gold and bronze medals. My mum introduced me to weightlifting. She represented Nigeria and Lagos State and I want to exceed her performance in the sport,” Ezenwa said.
Ikenna Ndubuisi (Wrestling)
Ikenna Ndubuisi delivered a silver medal for Enugu in the wrestling event.
He described the experience as a learning curve for him: “I feel excited even though things didn’t go as planned. We must still give glory and thanks to God. I know that next time it will be better than this,” Ndubuisi said.
“My Godfather, David Robinson, introduced me to wrestling. My first sport was athletics but he saw the passion for wrestling in me,” he added.
Ndubuisi vowed to excel in his chosen sport, stating that with the right equipment to train and adequate exposure to national and international competitions, the sky would be his starting point in the near future.
“I will like to push forward with my sporting career because I know I will not stop here. Here is just a stepping stone for me as I wish to see myself at national level and represent my country in international competitions. Whatever you find yourself doing; just put your mind, time and effort into it because what’s worth doing at all is worth doing well,” he said.
Stephanie Onusiriuka (Gymnastics)
Stephanie Onusiriuka, who made her second appearance at the games, was one of the star performers in Asaba.
Onusiriuka won a bronze medal at her maiden outing in Ilorin, Kwara state. However, she built on that performance to grab gold medals for Anambra in Asaba.
The youngster said she was over the moon after she won four gold medals. “I feel very happy because in my last Youth Games I only got a bronze medal. I was excited about the competition and I ensured I prepared myself to be ready for it. I tried to improve on my performance by working on my skills,” Onusiriuka, who received commendation from the Minister of Sports, John Ewan Enoh during a recent visit to the minister in Abuja, said.
“My parents have been very supportive as they have been bankrolling my training fees as well as my trip to Delta State. I am also hoping to go for international competitions abroad,” she revealed.
Favour Godiya (Shooting)
Favour Godiya of Yobe won gold and silver medals in the Shooting event. Godiya targets more records in the event at future national championships.
“I feel very good and delighted to win Yobe State’s only gold medal at the 2023 National Youth Games. This is the first time I am competing for a northern state and I am very happy to put Yobe on the medal table. I want to create more records for Yobe State because they believe in me,” Godiya stated.
“I started Shooting three years ago (2020) and I always attend various national championships across the country. I know the world will know my name in the near future. I have the confidence that I can replicate my fine form for Nigeria at the African Youth Championship. Nigeria is blessed with great shooters and I am happy to be one of them,” Godiya added.
James Odunayo (Shooting)
Debutant James Odunayo won gold in the mixed rifle event for Yobe.
“I feel great winning a gold medal for Yobe state because this is my first major competition. I was under pressure at the shooting range but I had faith I could win the gold medal. I will continue to represent Yobe state because they have made my name known to the world,” the gracious lad said.
Destiny Ikechukwu (Swimming)
Destiny Ikechukwu accounted for two of the gold medals won by Imo state after dominating the 50m and 100m breaststroke events.
The young swimmer braved all odds to win ahead of top swimmers from Bayelsa, Lagos and Delta, among others.
Ikechukwu, who hopes to go professional in the sport, said he would work harder at it.
“I am happy that I won two gold medals in the two events I participated in because I trained well for the tournament. I want to train harder to win more gold medals in future competitions. I want to become a professional swimmer competing across the globe for Nigeria,” Ikechukwu stressed.
Aidan Dumuje-Abili (Swimming)
Another star athlete of the games is Aidan Dumuje-Abili of Delta. The 12-year-old became the fastest swimmer at 12 after claiming gold in the 100m butterfly with a time of 1.03.73.
He dominated the 200m individual medley, 100m and 50m butterfly while also settling for a silver medal in the mixed relay.
The young swimmer was happy to win three gold medals and a silver medal for Team Delta in his first outing at the games, while vowing to continue training to enable him perform better in future events.
“It was quite exciting winning three gold medals. This National Youth Games has provided an opportunity for me to show my talent and I am grateful for all that I have achieved so far. I have been training morning and evening daily for a year before the start of the competition,” he revealed.
Dumuje-Abili’s ambition is to compete and win a gold medal at the Olympic Games. It is a goal he is working on to make a reality.
“I will continue to keep training and improving. My aim is to get to the Olympic Games and I will keep training and hoping to constantly improve to achieve my dream,” he stressed.
Delta State has won the 2023 National Youth Games (NYG) tagged “Asaba 2023” with a total of 116 medals at the ten-day games.
Team Delta bagged 51 gold; 34 silver and 31 bronze medals to emerge 7th consecutive winners, Lagos State came second with a total of 61 medals comprising 21 gold; 19 silver, and 21 bronze while Edo State came third with 21 gold; 15 silver; 17 bronze medals.
Delta’s win makes it seven wins in the seven National Youth Games since 2013 when Abuja hosted the first and Ilorin the last five editions.
Governor Oborevwori, who spoke at the closing ceremony of the games at Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba congratulated team Delta and other participating teams for their efforts.
Represented by Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, the Governor thanked the organisers for their hard work leading to the success of the games.
