Team Lagos is on course for a remarkable win at the ongoing 9th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, as the competition hits the home stretch.
The National Youth Games, introduced in 2013 by the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, serves as Nigeria’s premier grassroots sports talent discovery platform.
The multi-sport competition is designed to identify, groom, and nurture young athletes under the age of 15, with the ultimate goal of building a strong pipeline of talents for national and international sporting events.
At the end of day six (Wednesday), Team Lagos amassed 69 medals, comprising 35 gold, 18 silver and 16 bronze, ahead of the chasing Team Edo and hosts, Team Delta. Edo currently sits in second place with 46 medals comprising 23 gold, nine silver and 14 bronze, while Team Delta are on 51 medals (14 gold, 17 silver and 20 bronze) to complete the top three.
With three days of action left, Team Lagos will hope to fend off competition from challengers, Team Edo, and the perennial winners of the National Youth Games, Team Delta.
Team Lagos has dominated the swimming and gymnastics events in Asaba and is poised for more wins in some ball games.
Lagos won 19 gold and 4 silver medals in swimming, while their young gymnasts also added 4 gold, 3 silver and two bronze medals in different disciplines.
On Wednesday, Team Lagos also claimed a gold medal in the boys’ volleyball event while the girls’ team are poised to replicate the feat in their final on Thursday (today).
There are more finals for the Lagos State female hockey and football teams, as they hope to win more gold medals on day seven. Other events where they are poised for medals before the end of the competition include athletics, basketball, cycling, handball, chess, kickboxing, wrestling, squash, tennis and abula.
In a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Sports Commission, Titi Oshodi-Eko, on Thursday, the Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, said the performances of the athletes were in tandem with the state’s vision for sporting excellence.
“There’s no better way to rate the performance than what we have seen in terms of the multiple gold medals the swimmers have earned. It has actually reaffirmed the position of Lagos State as the leader in swimming in Nigeria.
“It has also further proven that currently, Lagos swimmers U-15 athletes are actually the best across Nigeria, and we will continue to do better.
“It’s actually a testament, validation of the resources, support and infrastructural improvement that Mr Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is doing. The manifestation of that investment is what we have seen in the performances of our athletes and the outcomes in terms of multiple gold medals that Lagos athletes have gotten at this event”, Fatodu said.
Over the years, the Games have produced several athletes who have gone on to represent Nigeria at the African Youth Games, Youth Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and even the Olympics. Delta State, which has hosted the Games in recent editions, has consistently dominated the medal table, leveraging its reputation as Nigeria’s sporting powerhouse.
This year’s edition features over 5,000 athletes from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory competing in more than 30 sports, including swimming, gymnastics, athletics, football, cycling, table tennis, basketball, chess, and combat sports.
Team Lagos’ strong showing in Asaba is significant as it signals a potential shift in dominance from Team Delta, who have been perennial winners of the Games. Lagos’ impressive performance in swimming and gymnastics has been a standout story of this year’s competition, with the state positioning itself as the new powerhouse in aquatic sports.
The Games also serve as a platform for states to measure the impact of their grassroots sports development programmes, investments in facilities, and athlete welfare initiatives.
Lagos State, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has been vocal about its commitment to sports as a tool for youth development, a commitment now reflected in the state’s near-top performance at the medal table.
