Team Kwara concluded its campaign at the 2024 National Sports Festival, tagged “Gateway Games,” as the 14th best-performing state, winning a total of 29 medals: 6 gold, 11 silver, and 12 bronze.
This represents a significant improvement from the state’s performance at the 2022 edition, where they secured 4 gold, 8 silver, and 37 bronze medals, to finish in gbe 18th position.
While Kwara had more podium finishes in bronze medals during the 2022 edition, the increase in gold and silver medals this year highlights substantial progress.
The improved quality of medal wins propelled the state to 14th place on the medal table—four places higher than their 18th-place finish in the previous edition.
The state’s medal haul was led by impressive performances in squash, table tennis, badminton, and wushu kungfu.
Notable athletes such as Rofiat Azeez, Blessing Isaac, Ahmed Abdullahi, Kudirat Imam-Fulani and Aiyelabegan Shukurat were instrumental in securing medals through their outstanding individual efforts.
Reacting to the team’s performance, the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bola Mogaji, commended the athletes and officials, describing the achievement as a testament to the unwavering support of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq toward sports development in the state.
He praised the discipline and resilience displayed by the Kwara contingent throughout the two-week competition, and assured that sports in Kwara State will continue to enjoy unprecedented growth under the present administration.
Meanwhile, Delta state emerged as the overall best team of the festival, topping the medals table with a total of 337 medals—126 gold, 100 silver, and 111 bronze.
Team Ogun, host state placed second with 235 medals (93 gold, 65 silver, and 77 bronze), while Bayelsa finished third with 228 medals (90 gold, 65 silver, and 73 bronze).
GATEWAY GAMES 2024
BREAKDOWN OF TEAM KWARA MEDAL HAUL
ATHLETICS- 1 Bronze (110m Hurdles) PARA ATHLETICS -Shot-Put – 1 Silver
BADMINTON – 1 Silver
CYCLING – 1 Gold
DART – 1 Bronze
FOOTBALL – 1 Silver
KICKBOXING – 1 Bronze
PARA POWERLIFTING – 1 Silver
SQUASH – 3 Gold, 3 Silver
TABLE TENNIS – Able 2 Silver
PARA TABLE TENNIS – 2 Gold, 6 Bronze
DEAF TABLE TENNIS – 1 Bronze)
WRESTLING- 1 Bronze
WUSHU KUNGFU – 1 Silver, 2 Bronze
Total: GOLD – 6, SILVER – 10, BRONZE – 13
