Kwara stepped into contention at the ongoing National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta state, winning five medals in three events today, Sunday September 24th, 2023, and reaching promising stages in some other events as the Games progresses.
The highlight was the gold medal won in the Mixed Doubles of table tennis event, the very first gold for the state in the 7th edition of the multi-sports fiesta.
The pair of Ahmed Fatimoh and Faruq Hussein won the gold medal for Team Kwara. The duo outclassed their counterparts from the host state, Delta state, by three straight sets (15-7, 15-8 and 25-7), to deliver Kwara’s first gold.
The Coach of the table tennis team, Kehinde Aiyelabegan, while reacting, said that the rigorous trainings during the open and closed campings preceding the Games assisted his athletes to achieve the success.
Also speaking, the gold medalists, Ahmed Fatimoh and Faruq Hussein implored their colleagues not to rest on their oars in clinching more medals for the state as the Games continues for another five days.
Also in table tennis, the pair of Ahmed Aishat and Shaheedu Awawu were beaten by Delta in the semi-finals, as they settled for bronze.
Earlier in the day, the duo of Gbenga Ayomide and Atanda Hikmat won silver for Kwara state in male 60km and 40km of the Cycling Road Event, to open the gate for medal haul.
Kwara closed the day with another silver, as Usman Abdulahi capped it with a silver in the Male Judo 40kg event, to bring the total haul of the day to five medals.
The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bolakale Adisa Magaji had earlier promised to surpass records of the previous editions, and the athletes are working towards achieving that target.
Kwara finished sixth in the last National Youth Games, after garnering 10 gold, 10 silver, and 12 bronze medals.
