The 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games, held in Ogun State, concluded with a spectacular display of Team Edo’s sporting prowess in kickboxing, where the team clinched eight gold medals across various categories.
Despite a tense atmosphere caused by disruptions from Team Bayelsa during the kickboxing events, Edo athletes remained focused and undeterred. Abdullah Damilare (-91kg), Prince Nwanchukwu (-57kg), and Christian Emmanuel (-81kg, low kick category) all struck gold.
Further gold medals came from Believe Oshiakpe (-75kg, full contact), Ifeanyi Onyekwere (+91kg, low kick), Daniel Iwuoha (-71kg), and Prince Epere (-58kg) in the male kickboxing categories. On the female side, Okoh Precious (-56kg, full contact) secured the eighth gold for Edo.
In wrestling, Allison Amakoro won silver in the 61kg event, while Bredford Ayibagbalumunu earned bronze in freestyle wrestling. Divine Ogbe contributed a bronze medal in cycling’s point race.
Team Edo also shone in athletics, with the men’s relay team winning gold and the women’s relay team claiming two silver medals. Bronze medals were also secured in the 4x100m categories. In table tennis, Edo added to its tally with a bronze in men’s doubles and a silver in women’s doubles.
However, the late conclusion of the kickboxing event—around 11:01 p.m. on Thursday night, after the overall festival winners, Delta State (1st) and Bayelsa State (2nd) had already been announced—raises serious concerns about the transparency and credibility of the final medal tally.
