Daud Olatunji
Defending champions, Team Delta, wasted no time in laying down the gauntlet at the 2024 National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, storming to the top of the medals table in what already looks like a bold statement of intent for a fifth consecutive title.
With the festival just two days old, Delta turned up the heat, snatching pole position from early leaders Team Cross River after bagging three gold and one silver—a performance led by Confidence Onyema, who struck twice in Kung Fu, and weightlifters Favour Mike and Edirin Agha, who claimed gold and silver respectively.
Cross River, which briefly enjoyed the summit thanks to a hat-trick of golds from standout performer Kalu Ufiem in the 55kg weightlifting category, have now slipped to second.
But perhaps the biggest revelation of this early medal rush is the emergence of the Invited Junior Athletes, a newly introduced category at the NSF.
This group, designed to nurture future stars, have defied expectations by climbing to third on the table with two gold, one silver, and two bronze medals, largely powered by a sensational showing from Amarachi Chijioke in the weightlifting event.
Team Lagos opened their account with a bang, as Ronke Olarinoye delivered the first gold of the Games in the women’s 45kg weightlifting event. Lagos currently sit fourth, with a gold and a bronze.
Bayelsa and Rivers are tied in fifth position, each earning two silver and a bronze, while Team Oyo hold seventh with one silver and one bronze. Team Ekiti are also on the medals table, thanks to a solitary bronze.
This edition of the festival, which officially kicked off on Sunday at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, is set to be the biggest in its history, with over 15,000 athletes vying for 2,150 medals across 549 events.
The medal haul includes 626 gold, 626 silver, and 898 bronze.
Ogun State is hosting the biennial event for the second time, after debuting in 2006.
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