Director of Sports Bayelsa State Sports Council Sir Braveman Wodi says he is optimistic that the state will finish in a respectable position in the ongoing National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.
Sir Wodi in an interview with journalists in Asaba, said the team Bayelsa started their quest in the games slow but believes that the athletes would finish strong at the end of the competition.
He noted that Bayelsa has put in what it takes to have a podium finish that the latest triumph in some of the sports is a reflection of what the State intends to achieve by the end of the games, describing this year’s edition as closed compared to the previous editions.
According to him, no state is sure of a podium finish apart from host Delta who are used to their facilities, pointing out that this year’s competitiveness was as a result of the deliberate effort made by the various state governments and their sports councils.
He explained that with the avalanche of talents spotted in the 8th National Youth Games the nation’s sports would rise again from its current state, maintaining that the development of sports is at the grassroots.
Sir Wodi hailed the screening committee for doing a good job, despite some Irregularities to determine the athletes that would participate in the games, stressing that physical appearance was not enough to determine the age of an athlete.
The Bayelsa Director equally advocated for the introduction of a U:15 and U:17 youths games, saying that there is a missing link between under fifteen and under seventeen that there was need to fill the link.
In the meantime, team Bayelsa on Monday produced a five stars performance in the ongoing National Youth Games in Asaba.
In Dart Felicia Idu and Favour Ketekete gave Bayelsa gold in the doubles 501, gymnastics also recorded gold just as para athletics who won gold to increase the medal tally.
Elsewhere, basketball boys recorded silver having lost in the final 8-5 to Cross Rivers while the girls were defeated by Lagos 7-6 and will now battle Osun in the bronze medal fixture Tuesday by 9am.
Goodluck Matthew and Andrew lost their respective final to Cross Rivers and Taraba State in Kokowa to settle for silver, Kung-fu clinched bronze just as shooting with two bronze medals.
Team Bayelsa as of the time of filing this report have won 36 medals comprising 11 gold, 13 silver and 12 bronze medals as the games continue on Tuesday while Wrestling will start on Wednesday.
