Sports
Rivers Weighting Records Excite Coach… Scores Nigeria’s Standard Low
Team Rivers’ weightlifting coach, Ojadi Aduche was relieved after one of his lifters, Caroline Okonkwo registered the team on the medals table in the event. The lifter, who was full of confidence as competition in the women’s 63kg class went on at the Brai Ayanote gymnasium went on, won three gold medals to improve Rivers state’s total haul last weekend, to16gold, eight silver andsix bronze medals, one gold medal more than rival, Delta State.
Okonkwo lifted a total of 96kg to win gold in the snatch event, 118kg in Clean and Jerk to make a total score of 214 to claim two more gold.
Victoria Adesanmi of Akwa Ibom finished second to win three silver medals, while hosts, Lagos State claimed bronze.
Speaking after the event coach Aduche said that he was a relieved man to have seen his team finally make the gold list.
He said that he had wanted Okonkwo to go after the event’s national record but an unfortunate knee injury forced them to concentrate on just winning the events.
Aduche, a Commonwealth gold medalist, said that he was targeting at least nine gold medals in weightlifting as the festival continues.
According to him, however, Delta State has been a thorn in their flesh. “We are trying to counter Delta team, they are working very hard here, in fact, they are good. After we won in Port Harcourt last year, they went back and did their home work, they have come up very strong here, but it is not over until it is over, we shall do our best”, the coach said.
It will be recalled that Team Delta captured a total of Eight gold medals in Weight lifting last Saturday.
On the overall standard of weightlifting in the country, Ojadi said that the game was not as good as it used to be. “The performance has gone down and the game is not making much progress, this is attributable to the eligibility rule governing the National Sports Festival”
He stated that the fact that lifters become ineligible after some appearances and have to switch to other sports to make ends meet negatively affects quality in the sport.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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