BY RAYMOND NWADUBA
Just Day 6 at the National Sports Festival in Ogun State otherwise known as Gateway Games 2024, defending champions Team Delta and Team Bayelsa are already enmeshed in a fierce double horse race for the crown.
Team Bayelsa currently lead on the medals table with 32 gold, 14 silver and 15 bronze medals while Team Delta is fast closing in on their rivals which took an early front position with 31 gold, 11 silver and 28 bronze medals to distant both states from the chasing crowd.
With this development, the men is fast being separated from the boys as Team Rivers occupy the third position on the medals log with 15 gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze medals. Host Team Ogun is closely placed fourth with 10 gold, 12 silver and 16 bronze, while Team Oyo is fifth with 10 gold, 11 silver and 16 bronze medals to complete the top five states on the medals table.
Should Delta emerge victorious again in Ogun that will be five straight wins for the sports blessed state which make massive investments in sports as a way to empower their youth and tackle poverty.
The Gateway Games which is the 22nd edition of the games will end May 30 while Enugu State will host the 23rd edition next year.
The National Sports Festival began since 1973 to foster national unity and it’s Nigeria’s biggest sporting event likened to the Olympics.
