Kaduna state beat Delta state 2-1 (21-13, 14-21, 15-12) to win gold in the men’s beach volleyball event at the 2022 National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta State on Friday.
The pair of Uchenna Austin and Peter Jasper (Kaduna) started the first set on a bright note against Emenike Ejike and Goodluck Anyasodike (Delta), winning by 21 to 13 points before the Host Delta State took the second set by 21 to 14 points.
The third set produced monster blocks, diagonal spikes and spectacular digs from both side with Kaduna state seeing off Delta state by 15 to 12 points to be crowned the new champions of the men’s beach volleyball.
Speaking with newsmen, the Captain of Kaduna state men’s beach volleyball team, Uchenna Austin said winning the gold medal is a dream come true.
Austin attributed the success recorded to the beach volleyball tour organised by the Nigeria Volleyball Federation and constant training.
He said, “I am happy to be a National Sports Festival gold medal; this is a dream come true for I and my teammate. When we qualified for the final, we told ourselves that this will not be a repeat of the 2020 National Sports Festival in Edo state. We were determined never to give up and take the gold medal back to Kaduna.
“We have been playing volleyball championship since the beginning of 2022 and the ongoing beach volleyball tour has contributed positively to our game.
He said the attention of the team will shift to the final phase of the 2022 National Beach Volleyball Tour taking place in Kaduna.
“The gold medal has boosted our morale and the next thing on our mind is how to make an impact at the forthcoming National Beach Volleyball Tour”.
Meanwhile, Bayelsa state beat Kebbi state 2-0 (21-15, 21-19) to win bronze medal in the men’s third place match
