Team Edo is making waves at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024 and hosted in Ogun State, as its athletes continue to deliver outstanding performances across multiple disciplines, securing top spots on the medals table and drawing national attention to issues of transparency in medal collation.
The Edo gold rush began with squash, where Abel Shedrack triumphed over his Lagos opponent 2-1 to win gold. In tennis, Michael Chima and Omotayo Blessing progressed to the mixed doubles quarterfinals after beating Team IJA 4-2, 4-2, though Omotayo fell short in the women’s singles. The female doubles pair, Lorelay Holzendorff and Omotayo Blessing, bounced back with a 4-1, 4-2 win against Ekiti to book a semifinal slot, while the male duo of Endurance Ehiagiamusoe and Michael Chima exited in the quarterfinals after a loss to FCT.
In cricket, the Edo male team claimed gold in the T20 format, chasing down Kaduna’s 72-run total with ease, losing only two wickets in nine overs for an emphatic eight-wicket victory. Gymnastics proved another gold mine for Team Edo, netting 8 gold, 7 silver, and 1 bronze in a dazzling display of skill and dominance.
Kickboxing added to the medal haul with multiple golds, including the 81kg male category, where Osun settled for silver and Lagos and Abia shared bronze. In athletics, Ezeakor Chidera and Enoch Adegoke secured gold and silver respectively in the 100m men’s race. Edo’s success extended to cycling with a silver in the 10km women’s individual time trial, and karate, where Ogochukwu Gift earned bronze in the +68kg event. In the Deaf category, Assurance Omoria clinched silver in the women’s 100m.
Edo’s handball team also delivered, defeating Sokoto 20-15 to reach the semifinals. As of now, the state’s medal tally stands at 33 gold, 56 silver, and 45 bronze, totaling 134, with several events still in play as the festival runs until May 30.
However, this string of victories has been overshadowed by concerns about the integrity of the medal collation process. The Main Organising Committee (MOC) has come under fire for failing to provide timely and accurate medal updates, with Edo officials decrying the use of outdated manual systems that delay and, in some cases, omit their recorded wins. Multiple complaints lodged by Edo have gone unaddressed, raising doubts about the transparency and fairness of the entire process.
Amid the controversy, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, congratulated former Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu on his appointment as Director-General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS). Enabulele praised Shaibu’s unwavering commitment to youth and sports development, expressing confidence that his new role will bring transformative leadership to Nigeria’s sports sector.
With both accolades and accountability on the line, Team Edo continues to push forward, undeterred in its quest to dominate the festival and uphold the spirit of true sportsmanship.
