2024 NYG: Team Leader, Osetoba sheds tears of joy as Ekiti wins silver in athletics

Posted : 16 September 2024

Saturday was a day of mixed emotions, marked by varying results from the different events in which members of Team Ekiti participated at the ongoing National Youth Games, tagged Asaba 2024, in Delta State.

While some athletes experienced painful losses to more seasoned opponents, others excelled and advanced to crucial stages of their events.

All eyes were on athletics, where many skeptics had ruled out the possibility of Ekiti winning a medal. However, the experience, tenacity, and determination of various athletes paid off in the end.

Athletes like Adetobi Adebowale, Imisioluwa Ajayi, Anjolaoluwa Ajayi, and Oluwashina Oguntunbi could not reach the finals of their events despite their best efforts up to the semi-final stages. But their disappointments were quickly forgotten when the quartet of Wahab Salawudeen, Olajesu Ogundare, Boluwatife Fayose, and Comfort Aribisala won a hard-earned silver in the 4x400 meter mixed relay (boys and girls).

The quartet lost the gold medal to the host state, which fielded more experienced and exposed athletes, but Ekiti finished second in a race that included competitors from Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, and others.

The silver medal for Ekiti was celebrated as if it were gold. Dr. Olusola Osetoba, the Technical Advisor on Sports Development and leader of Team Ekiti, watched the races with tension and high expectations, given that athletics had been one of the state's strengths in previous tournaments.

Dr. Osetoba could not hide her emotions, shedding tears of joy while celebrating with the athletes, coaches, and Team Ekiti shortly after winning the silver medal.

There are still hopes for Ekiti State today (Sunday) as the state athletes will compete in the 400 meters, high jump, long jump, as well as tennis, boxing, gymnastics, chess, hockey, cricket, volleyball, and scrabble, among other events.

In tennis, hopes are high as three players—Seyi Ogunsakin, Goodnews Aina, and Gloria Samuel—are in the quarter-finals of both singles and girls' doubles events and will be in action this morning, contesting for semi-final spots.

In cricket, Ekiti State recorded impressive results as the girls are now in the semi-finals, where they will face Akwa Ibom State today after beating Edo State in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

In boxing, Afolabi Ridwan of Ekiti State lost the 44kg bout to a counterpart from Borno State, while Kehinde Muritala defeated her opponent from Akwa Ibom by technical knockout in the 42kg female event. Usman Mubarak also defeated Buhari Tajudeen from Kwara State in the 42kg boys' category.

In beach volleyball, Ekiti State boys have three matches against Edo, Kaduna, and Bayelsa States, while the girls from Ekiti will face FCT and Bauchi. The boys had earlier beaten Ondo but lost to Borno State, while the girls lost two tough games against Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States.

An unprecedented 2-0 victory was recorded by Ekiti State male volleyball players over the host, Delta State. A young, vibrant player named Ikechukwu Opara, the son of Ekiti State Karate coach Jude Opara, emerged as the man of the match and the toast of spectators with a spectacular performance against Adamawa State in a game that ended 1-1.

Ekiti State remains in contention in scrabble and chess, despite fielding very young boys and girls under 10 years old at the ongoing National Youth Games 2024 in Asaba, Delta State.

In chess, Ekiti State defeated Imo State 3-1 in the boys' category, while the girls also won against Abia State 3-1. Ekiti State table tennis players defeated Bauchi State 2-0 in the boys' doubles event but lost to the host, Delta.

As the National Youth Games gather momentum, more events will unfold, and athletes will have brighter chances to win medals, while others may face heartbreaks.

As of Saturday, Team Ekiti has a bronze in weightlifting and a silver in athletics. Hopes are high for other events as they reach their peak starting today (Sunday).

As expected, Delta State has been sweeping up medals, while Edo and Lagos States are also giving the host state a strong chase on the medals table.

The National Youth Games 2024, featuring 35 states and the FCT, will conclude on Friday.

2024 NYG: Team Leader, Osetoba sheds tears of joy as Ekiti wins silver in athletics

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