After day 2 of the maiden Engr. Habu Gumel National Weightlifting Championship holding in Abuja, Bayelsa State has shot to the top of the medal table with six gold and six silver medals ahead of 17 other teams vying for honours at the championship.
Competing in the men’s 61 kg weight category, Agboro Favour who lifted 101kg in Snatch , 140 kg in Clean/Jerk to record a total of 241 kg and Ayodele Ruth who had 90 kg in Snatch, 120kg in Clean/Jerk and score a total of 210 kg accounted for Bayelsa state gold medal haul so far.
Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Edo, Ogun and Oyo State are having three gold medals each but Ogun is occupying the second position for clinching an additional silver medal while Oyo boasts of an additional three bronze medals to move to the 3rd position. Bauchi State that really started well as far as the race for medals is concerned, are still struggling to grab a gold medal. The state currently boasts of 8 silver and three bronze medals.
The medal table is expected to change later today with the Championship drawing to an end
However, the first Vice President of the Weightlifting. Federation of Africa (WFA) and former President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Chimdi Ejiogu, who flagged off the Championship, gave Kudos to the President of the NWF, Dr. Abdul Ibrahim and other stakeholders for staging the championship.
He described Engr. Gumel, the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) in whose honour the Championship is being held as a living legend and a great ambassador to Nigeria who is worthy of honour, having contributed immensely to the Development of Sports in the Country.
According to Sir Ejiogu, someone like Engr. Gumel can best be honoured as a living legend now that he is with us than when he passes on.
The NWF President, who just arrived from America where he went for a befitting programme, said the championship is aimed at discovering new talents that will take over from the retiring ones.
According to him, many good ones are quitting the sports due to old age while others are moving into coaching.
“And as a serious federation, there is an urgent need to replace them in order not to create a vacuum. All we need now is a pool of young, vibrant and energetic lifters that will stand the taste of time.
“Hence the reason for keeping his hands into his pockets to ensure that this competition is held before the year 2024 runs out.
“Besides, there are lots of international Championships stirring us in the face next (2025) and we need a real formidable team to face those challenges,” he said.
“You can see lifters performance in this event coupled to the first class organization we are witnessing these three days. That is how things are supposed to be done.
“So for weightlifting under my leadership and care, the sky is just the beginning. All I keep craving for is for all the stakeholders ( referees and coaches) to play their roles effectively so that together , we will get to where we are going.
“There are going to be more domestic championships next year, including the 2nd edition of Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel National open among others,” he added.
