4th December, 2012
The 2012 National Sports Festival enters the crucial stage today, as the athletics event commenced at the tartan tracks of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos State.
While the athletics event was going, the Lagos State men’s volleyball team also booked their place in the final of the volleyball event, as they defeated Rivers 3-0.
Already, the 5,000m women’s final event was concluded this afternoon, as Aminat Olowora of Lagos state came first.
She returned in a time of 18.47.89secs to clinch gold, Deborah Pam of Delta came second in a time of 18.58.96secs to win silver, while the bronze medal went to Benue State’s Imanger Akaha who returned in a time of 19.07.96secs.
In the 100m Women’s Heat 1, Deborah Odeyemi of Bayelsa State finished in a time of 11.5secs to place first, Igbinosun Isoken of Delta State came second with a time of 11.8, Olutoyin Faseun of Ogun State came third.
Peace Uko of Ondo State ran a time of 11.2secs to place first in the second heat, Margaret Benson came second with a time of 11.5secs and Cecilia Francis of Lagos State ran a time of 11.7secs
In the 20km Men’s final, Hussain Yinusa won gold for Rivers State returning in a time of 1hr 54m 10.38s, silver medal went to Gbenga Amos of Ogun State, he ran a time of 1hr 67m 40.32s, while Ibrahim Joseph of Team Delta grabbed bronze with a time of 2hrs 1m 20.62m.
Other events lined up as at the time of filling this report are Men’s shot put; Women’s javelin; Women’s high jump, Men’s discuss amputee; 100m hurdles women; discuss deaf.
The Women’s 100m hurdles and 100m men and women amputee events would also hold today.
The athletes, who would be on the tracks tomorrow have been advised to confirm the time of their races from the officials.
Meanwhile, the Local Organising Committee, LOC of the Sports Festival in Lagos State have been slammed by some of the amateur boxers for their failure to provide electronic scoreboard for the pugilists game.
The LOC came under fire over its failure to provide the electronic scoreboard needed for the boxing events and this didn’t go down well with some of the boxers, and team officials at the gymnasium of the National Institute of Sports, NIS venue of the event.
Some of the boxers slammed the LOC for not making available the electronic scoreboard, stressing this may inluence the results of the event.
Yusuf Olalekan representing Rivers State in the 91kg weight category attributed his loss to Dauda Azeez Monday to the non availability of the scoreboard, arguing that if there had been an electronic scoreboard in place he would had known that he was losing.
—Bimbo Ajayi/Adebobola Alawode