NSF: Rivers Top Cycling With Four Gold, Two Silver

Host of the on-going 17th National Sports Festival, Rivers State has topped the medals table in cycling, winning four gold, two silver medals in both male and female events.

 Edo trailed behind the host state with two silver and a bronze, while Delta got a silver and a bronze medal respectively.

In the team pursuit, Rivers returned with 4:39 seconds and 4:06 second, Edo returned with 4:58 second and 4:39 seconds while Delta returned with 5:04 and 4:39s in 4,000meters and 3000mts for male and female respectively.

20 states took part in male cycling events while six states took part in female events. 

Thecla Opara, Secretary General, Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN) in a chat with correspondents yesterday said that she was impressed with the results of cycling so far in the festival 

She also said that the Rivers State cyclists were full of determination and energy to win all medals in the race, adding that they prepared adequately for the festival.

She also said that other states should emulate Rivers in the area of equipment, determination and encouragement of athletes, saying that those were the winning strategies. 

“I think we should give kudos to Rivers State Government for preparing them early enough and giving them the encouragement and equipment too, other states should emulate them,’’ she said. 

Levi Christian, Head of the medical team of the cyclists told correspondents that no serious casualties were recorded so far since the commencement of the race on Wednesday.

“It was just two injuries that we recorded this morning, a fight ensued between two cyclists and they gave themselves a cut, aside that no serious injury so far,’’ Christian said.