Four days into the 21st edition of the National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta State, Team Nasarawa have continued to intensify burning desires to make positive impacts as they are yet to take their foot off the medals’ throttle.
After winning two Bronze medals in Taekwondo on the first competitive day of the Festival, the Team went on to win one Silver medal on Day Three in Para-Table Tennis Singles Event.
Today, being Sunday, Team Nasarawa improved on their medal status as they won three additional medals, consisting one Silver and two Bronze medals, separately.
Mohammed Salihu won one Silver in the Men’s 107kg in Para-Powerlifting.
He also won one Bronze medal in the same weight category.
Earlier, Grace Haruna had to make do with a Bronze medal in Judo Women’s 78kg Category.
So far, Team Nasarawa have won a total of six medals, comprising two Silver and four Bronze.
In Boxing, Musa Yusuf lost his fight, 0-5, against Akeem Ogunmodede of Gombe State in the Men’s 67kg Category.
However, respite will come the way of Team Nasarawa on Monday when Habeeb Ayobami and Farouk Tajudeen will engage their opponents from Borno and Plateau States, respectively, in the 67kg and 57kg Categories.
17-year-old Francis James shocked the audience as he came 4th overall best at the time of 31 minutes and 54 seconds in the 10,000m of Athletics Event decided at the Stephen Keshi International Stadium, Asaba, while Zakari came 6th position among twelve runners at the time of 32 minutes and 63 seconds.
Team Nasarawa will still participate in the 5000m, Triple Chase, Marathon race and 800m Athletics Events before the Sports Festival climaxes.
In Darts, Team Nasarawa athletes would be participating in the Men’s Doubles 501 and Foursome 501 Categories.
Team Nasarawa Female Basketball team pipped Kaduna State 26-25 to record their first Group A victory after losing two straight games.
Their last Group match is slated for Tuesday against Adamawa State and could be guaranteed a place in the Semi-Finals hoping that Team Lagos lose their last Group game.
Additionally, the State Hockey team played out a pulsating goalless stalemate with Rivers State.
Team Nasarawa will next take on Team Delta in their last Group B match.
Weightlifting will form a major action point on Monday morning at the Orchid Hotel, Asaba, as Team Nasarawa’s Samson Adah(55kg) and Fatima Yakubu(45kg) will go into action in the Male and Female contest.
