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Bayelsa To Host 39th FEPSGA

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There are indications that Bayelsa State is  set to score another  point in sports development as it concluded plans to host the 39th edition of the Federation of Public Service Games (PEPSGA) tagged “Bayelsa 2020”, to be organised by the Federation of Public  Service Games (FEPSGA) next month.
According to the national president of the organising  body, Comrade Aloku Miebi, in a press statement, necessary correspondence has been sent to the Bayelsa State Government in that regard.
He further stated that this year’s game which is the 39th edition of the historic National Sports event will attract participants from over 70 Federal Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Parastatals and will be declared open by the executive Governor of the state, Senator Douye Diri.
He explained that Bayelsa State was picked to host the competition due to its  strategic importance to the economic growth of the nation.
The statement also noted that the event  is very timely as the state stands to derive huge socio-economic and cultural benefits ranging from stimulating significantly, the economic growth of the young state to substantially generate enormous income  for the economic drivers such as market men, women, food vendors, hoteliers, and entertainment, also to showcase business proprietors.
“The game will increase the volume of trade and investments to the state, boosting the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and providing a veritable platform to showcase the rich cultural heritage and endowments of the people.
“It will also resuscitate the business activities that were crippled by the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, the sports fiesta will as well boost the image of the state as the home of peace , excellence and national unity to the global community,” Miebi said.
The Public Service Games is an annual sports event for Nigerian Public Servants. It is organised by the Federation Of Public Service Games, which is the umbrella body of sports for the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)
The game is equivalent to the National Sports Festival in terms of value and provides an ample opportunity for Nigerian Public servants to interact, share and exchange sociocultural values for the purpose of fostering national cohesion and integration.

 

By: Nancy Briggs

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Rivers-born Chess Player Clinches Third Position At World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship 

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A veteran Rivers State chess player, Apollos Akomaka, has finished in joint 3rd place at the just-concluded World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship held in Abuja.
Akomaka, who is the director of physiotherapy at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, overcame a shaky start to secure a podium finish in the 11-round rapid event that began on August 2.
The tournament featured top chess players from several countries.
After losing his opening game, the defining moment for Akomaka came between Rounds 7 and 11.
He raised his game and began defeating some of the top-ranked players in the event.
The Rivers-born player ended the championship tied for 3rd place in the U2000 category with 6.5 points out of 11, alongside Cameroon’s national champion, Noumbo Vidal.
His final game was against Vidal, with the Nigerian playing the black pieces.
Vidal opened with a queen’s gambit but quickly transposed into an English opening with a double fianchetto attack.
Akomaka responded sharply with a king’s Indian defense and soon launched a kingside attack from a defensive position.
The pressure paid off, resulting in an immediate material gain, a knight for a rook, and leaving Akomaka with a strong attacking advantage.
Vidal fought hard to avoid mate and managed to steer the game into an endgame, where he found some respect. At that point, the Cameroon champion offered a draw, which Akomaka accepted.
Speaking after the event, Akomaka said that he is resilient and determined after the poor start but happy that he finished on the podium.
He expressed optimism that in subsequent competitions he will make Rivers State proud and Nigeria at large.
Akomaka has won both local and national chess championships in recent times.
He is passionate about chess; besides, he has equally sponsored several national chess tournaments in Nigeria.
The World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship concluded with Akomaka of Rivers State,
Nigeria, battling back from an early loss to end among the top three in his category
Tonye Orabere/Kiadum Edookor
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Team Nigeria Secures Women’s 4x100m, 4x400m Finals at World U20 Championships

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Team Nigeria continued its impressive showing at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, securing places in both the women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relay finals after strong performances in the heats.
The Nigerian quartet of Becky Ebiyadi, Jecinta Lawrence, Tejiri Praise Ugoh and Faith Ezechukwu booked their place in the women’s 4x400m final after clocking a season’s best of 3:35.28.
Nigeria finished third in the heat behind Italy and Great Britain, doing enough to advance to the final and remain firmly in contention for a medal.
In the women’s 4x100m, Ugoh joined Lucy Nwankwo, Chigozie Nwankwo and Oluebube Ezechukwu as Nigeria produced another season’s best, clocking 43.65 seconds to secure an automatic ticket to the women’s 4x100m final.
The qualification was sealed by a sensational anchor leg from Ezechukwu. Receiving the baton nearly 20 metres behind the United States, the Nigerian launched a determined charge down the home straight, rapidly closing the gap before edging the Americans at the line to claim the third automatic qualifying position.
Nigeria stopped the clock at 43.65 seconds, just 0.02 seconds ahead of the United States, who finished in 43.67 seconds.
The performances mean Nigeria will now contest both women’s relay finals, further strengthening the country’s medal prospects at the championships.
In Saturday’s evening phase of the event, Success Uyibo will compete in the 200m women’s final while the 4x100m compete in the women’s final.
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Poor welfare forced me to dump Delta for Enugu, says world – Nwachukwu

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World Record holder and Commonwealth Games champion, Goodness Nwachukwu, has revealed why she dumped Delta State for Enugu State.

The sudden departure of Nwachukwu, a multiple gold medallist, from Team Delta to the Coal City, Enugu , sparked controversy within the sports family, with officials of Delta State Sports Commission accusing the president of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, Sunday Odebode, of manipulating the system for the athlete to dump the state.

But Nwachukwu, who broke the World Record to win a gold medal for Team Nigeria in the Women’s Discus F42 event at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, has cleared the air on the circumstances that led to her movement to Enugu State.

Speaking with The Tidesports source report, shortly after winning the gold medal, Nwachukwu said: “It is not true that anybody aided my movement from Delta State to Enugu. Rather, it was Delta State that forced me to leave because of poor remuneration.

 

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