Team Delta wins National Weightlifting competition

Nineteen states and the Police participated in the competition.

Team Delta has emerged the overall champions of the week-long National Youth Junior and Senior Weightlifting championships which ended on Friday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

Delta won a total of 49 medals comprising 26 gold, 16 silver, and 7 bronze, to emerge the overall champions.

Plateau was second with 30 medals comprising 24 gold, four silver, and two bronze, while Edo was third with 31 medals comprising 17 gold, 5 silver and 9 bronze.

Coach Emmanuel Oshoma of Team Delta said after the championships that his team prepared well for the competition, adding that the victory was well-deserved.

Oshoma then called on the National Sports Commission (NSC) to support the championships, to enhance the participation of athletes in the sport. He said this would enable the country to be able to win more medals at the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, as well as other international competitions.

Tochukwu Ejimuno, a Team Delta athlete, said that the major problem with the sport was lack of encouragement from the NSC and the various state governments.

Ejimumo, who won two gold and a silver medal, said that he was grateful to God for making him achieve the feat, saying that he was determined to represent the country in major international competitions.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the NSC’s Director-General, Gbenga Elegbeleye, said that weightlifting was dear to the country and enabled it to win many medals in international competitions.

Elegbeleye pledged that the NSC would continue to support the activities of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, organisers of the championships, to motivate the athletes.

Chibudom Nwuche, president of the federation, who sponsored the competition, promised to continue to sponsor the championship annually.

Nwuche, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, urged the NSC and the Akwa Ibom Government to assist the federation in staging the competition.

A total 19 states and the Police Team took part in the week-long competition which started on July 29.

(NAN)