Head of Rivers State Amature Weightlifting Association, Aduche Ojadi, has commended Team Rivers weightlifters over their performance at the on-going 17th National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt.

Coach Ojadi made the commendation yesterday during an exclusive interview with The Tidesports at the Township School, venue of the event.

According to him, out of 45 medals for the weightlifting events Team Rivers lifters clinched 13 gold, six silver and one bronze while Akwa-Ibom bagged eight gold medals.

Though what we won was below my expectation, because, we really prepared for this festival, but I am happy that our hardwork was fruitful,” he said.

Ojadi, who is also a national and an international gold medalist, advised the athletes to sustain the tempo of the standard exhibited at the “Garden City Games, 2011” saying that, to be a champion is one thing and to retain the status is another.

Speaking on the standard of officiating, he said that officiating was good and there was no cheating or partiality in officiating the event.

“This festival is one of the best, it has been fair as far as weightlifting is concerned and there has been no protest so far, which goes a long way to prove the efficiency of the technical crew, he remarked.

Meanwhile, Rose Daniels won two gold, one silver in the 48 leg category (female), Caroline Okouokha three silver, in the 75kg category while Gloria Moses clinched three gold in the 75kg category.

Other winners include Comfort, three silver, in the +75kg.

Meanwhile, Team Rivers Female lifters clinched five gold and six silver in the 48kg, 58kg, 75kg and 75+ class, while in the men category eight gold medals and one bronze were won, to make it a total number of 13 gold, six silver and one bronze.

Abdul Salihu also won two gold and one bronze in the 85kg class, Andrew John three gold, 94kg class, and Ikechukwu Okeke clinched three gold in the 105kg+ class men category.