Kwara state today, Monday September 25th, 2023 appreciated with just a medal at the ongoing 7th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, after bagging five medals on Sunday.
Demola Hikmat won bronze for Team Kwara in the 10km female cycling event, to add to the one gold, three silver and one bronze medals already won by the state yesterday.
Kwara won a gold in Mixed Double and bronze medal in Women’s Double in table tennis, two silver medal in cycling, and a silver in judo, to close the day with five medals, but could only add just one today.
However, the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bola Mogaji expressed satisfaction with Team Kwara’s performance at the ongoing National Youth Games in Asaba.
“We brought young athletes, and they are all doing well. We are expecting more medals, because we have some events that are yet to commence, and some that are ongoing. If we keep this athletes together they will do better in future.
He faulted the consideration of officiating officials for the Games, claiming that there could be biased decisions, and also, faulty decision by some of the officials who are inexperienced.
“The Ministry of Sports did not do well. They gave power to the host state to provide most of the officiating officials, and with that, there could be partial officiating. Its the duties of the federations to provide officials, so as to bring about a level playing ground for all participants.
“I am the President of the Squash Referees Association, and I know this. I will want to blame the Main Organizing Committee (MOC) for that. They also brought inexperienced officials, who could mar the officiating aspect of the Games.
A member of the MOC, Mr Demola Are, had earlier admitted they encountered hitches, but assured the challenges are well under control. Mr Are blamed the Games postponement as part of the issues that contributed to some of the happenings at the ongoing Games.
