Sports
Weightlifting Coaches Decry Age-Cheating At NYG
Allegations of age falsification are casting a shadow over performances in the weightlifting event at the ongoing 3rd National Youth Games (NYG) at the University of Ilorin Sports Complex.
Coach Mike Kama of Anambra said the purpose of the NYG was being defeated as over-aged athletes were allowed to compete with younger talents.
Kama said it was clear that those who won on Monday were above the 17 years maximum age limit for athletes at the Games even when they weighed 48kg.
He urged the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation to save the game by ensuring that there was fair and equitable screening.
On her part, Coach Angel Rich of Bayelsa deplored the organisation of the Games, saying that had made it to lack competitiveness.
She said results from the National Youth Games were now looking like those of the National Sports Festival because the rules on age-limit were not observed.
“This under-48kg is rubbish, as far as I am concerned. How can we catch them young like this?
“When the first group (Group B) competed, you will know that the weightlifters are under 17, but the Group A is filled with mature athletes.
“They (the organisers) said this is a Youth Games, but how can the results we are getting here be almost the same with those of the National Sports Festival?
“We cannot catch them young like this, and this is just too bad for the weightlifting sport because they are not allowing fair play,’’ she said.
Responding, Louis Okoro, a member of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation and its Head of Publicity Unit, said those aggrieved and with valid proof of infractions should petition the Games secretariat.
Okoro said the Federation was confident that all athletes passed through thorough screening at the Main Organising Committee (MOC) level and the Federation level.
“However, the results would be revisited if the complainants channelled their grievances through the appropriate means,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, competition in the sport’s 48kg female category was concluded on Monday at the Faculty of Arts and Culture’s Lecture Theatre.
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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