Team Edo has moved up on the medal ladder of the 21st National Sports Festival after impressive performances by Kungfu and Taekwondo athletes on Day Six of the competition.
Edo, the Heart Beat of Nigeria sports are now second on the medal table behind host Delta State. They currently have 24 gold medals.
On day six of the Delta 2022 Festival, Edo won six gold medals in Para-powerlifting, eight silver and three bronze in Para powerlifting. In Kungfu, the state won three gold, six silver and seven bronze.
Team Edo, known for high performance in combat sports also did well in Taekwondo securing three gold, two silver and five bronze medals.
Edo also showed class in Deaf Athletics, Para-Table Tennis, Cycling and Judo.
Edo female volleyball team were also impressive on Tuesday with a 3-1 victory over Team Rivers
to qualify for the semi-finals scheduled for Thursday.
Meanwhile, Delta State governor, Dr lfeanyi Okowa has challenged the current crop of athletes competing for honours at the 21st National Sports Festival to seize the opportunity of Delta 2022 to break the 33-year-old record set by Mr Yusuf Alli in 1989.
Alli, who is now the Executive Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, set a personal best record in Long Jump with a leap of 8.27m in 1989.
The Olympian’s personal best of 8.27 metres in the Long Jump event in 1989 during the African Athletics Championship in Lagos still stands as Nigeria’s best in that event.
Dr Okowa said, “l want every one of you as an athlete to uphold the values of strength, hard work and dedication here in Delta 2022 because you are the best, your states cherish you, run fast to achieve your dreams.”