NSF: Rivers Leads Medals Table In Judo

Team Rivers is leading the medals table in Judo events with six gold and one  silver medal at the ongoing 17th National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt.

Rivers got the six gold medals in 81kg, 73kg, 63kg, +90kg, +78kg and -70kg while the silver was in +78kg for both male and female categories.

Cross River trailed behind Rivers with two gold medals in +100 and -100kg male category.

Lagos placed third with a gold in 57Kg, a silver in 90kg and two bronze medals in 81kg and 63kg male and female categories.

International Judo Federation’s (IJF) referee, Alexander Dezouza told correspondents yesterday at the Civic Centre, Port Harcourt that all judokas contested well and without referee’s biases.

“You can see for yourself, if there were biases, this place would have been in commotion but all of them accepted the result,“  Dezouza said.

Technical Director, Rivers State Judo Association, Musa Umah also said that early preparation and intensive training were the secret of their brilliant performances.

He said the Judokas camped three months before the festival, and  urged them to work hard and win more medals.

“We are the host state, we do not want to disgrace our state and with that we have to train hard, thanks to  the government that supported us with enough funds,“ Umah said.