The Chairman of the Delta State Wrestling Association, Preye Ekpebide, on Sunday commended his athletes for their performance at the ongoing 5th National Youth Games (NYG) in Ilorin.
His commendation has come in spite of the athletes’ failure to win gold medals at the event.
Ekpebide told newsmen that the athletes were new to the sport and expressed the belief that they would perform better in the next edition by surpassing the feat of winning bronze medal.
He said the association would work with the athletes to ensure they became better wrestlers.
“The association has already concluded plans to improve on the performance of the athletes ahead of the next edition of the NYG in 2020,” the chairman said.
Ekpebide however commended Team Delta as a whole and the Executive Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Tonobok Okowa, for making Deltans proud.
“They have shown that the state remains the dominant force in Nigerian sports.”
He also lauded Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta for investing in sports in the state.
“The results being achieved at the NYG are a clear indication that the state’s investment in the sector was already yielding results,” Ekpebide pointed out.
He enjoined Gov. Okowa not to relent because sports was not only a huge employment platform but also a bridge-builder and a unifying factor.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Delta is as at Sunday noon leading the Games’ medals table with 73 medals, comprising 30 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze.
NAN