Sports Festival: Team Rivers Lead ‘Em, As Tourney Ends Sunday

Host Rivers State is poised to win the 17th National Sports Festival that ends on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

As at this morning, Team Rivers sit comfortably atop the medals table with 96 gold, 47 silver and 50 bronze medals totalling 193.

Rivers led the log for most of the games and ensured that there is a decent gap between them and second placed Team Delta.

Last edition’s winners, Delta State, is placed second with 57 gold, 64 silver and 58 bronze medals totalling 179. Despite Team Delta’s good performance in most of the events, they could not surpass the sterling performance of Team Rivers at the KADA Games 2009.

Edo, Ondo and Bayelsa are placed third, fourth and fifth respectively. Edo State has a total of 81 medals with 32 gold, 22 silver and 27 bronze. Ondo State which is in the fourth position earned their place due to their brilliant performance in athletics where they won three gold medals yesterday.

They are still in pole position to win gold medals in gymnastics that end today. Bayelsa State has also improved their position on the medals table. The oil rich state has 16 gold, 10 silver and 19 bronze.

Ogun State is placed seventh on the medal log behind sixth placed Akwa Ibom. The 2006 hosts of the Games has 11 gold, 13 silver and 29 bronze medals, while next year’s host, Lagos State is placed a distant 16th on the table. Lagos State have only won four gold, 11 silver and 17 bronze.

—Seun Bisuga/Port Harcourt