A total of 71 athletes, are expected to represent Kogi State in the 10-day sporting event in the 2023 National Youth Games, (NYG) scheduled to take place in Asaba, Delta State.
Our Kogi State Correspondent, reports that the sporting event, which is the seventh edition of NYG, will run from September 7 -17.
It was gathered that athletes have been camping for the past two weeks at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, preparing for the annual tournament aimed at discovering raw talents, that would represent Nigeria in both local and international competitions.
It was further learnt that the athletes are all waiting patiently for Kogi State Government, under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello to make funds available for them to showcase their talents through sports.
The Kogi State athletes, will participate in athletics, badminton, cricket, boxing, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, shooting, weight lifting, wrestling, beach volleyball and Judo.
One of the officials in the state, who spoke to This Newspaper, in confidence today, Friday September 1, in Lokoja, described the upcoming tournament as an opportunity for young and promising athletes in Kogi to make breakthrough in the sporting world.
According to him, Kogi State have continued to maintain their ground in sports, assuring that, with the level of preparation and team spirit, the State will surpass their previous records in National Youths Game.
“With all fairness to this present administration, they are doing their best, but they must do more. We are appealing to our sport loving Governor to release funds for us to participate in this competition”, he stated.
One of the athletes, who identified herself as Joy, told our Kogi State Correspondent, that they are fully ready to make Kogi State proud.
According to her, Kogi State will shock other State in this year competition, just as she expressed optimism of winning many medals at the end of the tournament.
