Bayelsa wins maiden Engr Habu Gumel National Open Weightlifting Championship
By Olaolu Joseph
Bayelsa State has once again demonstrated its growing prominence in weightlifting as the state’s contingent emerged victorious at the maiden Engr Habu Gumel National Open Weightlifting Championship held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The three-day competition, which ran from Sunday, December 1, to Tuesday, December 3, saw Bayelsa outperform contingents from 17 other states across the country, as well as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), to claim the top spot.
Nicknamed the “Glory of All Lands,” Bayelsa secured a total of 30 medals to lead the overall medals table, while Oyo State placed second with 12 medals. Delta State, renowned for its dominance in weightlifting at the 2022 National Sports Festival and the National Youth Games held in September, finished third with 21 medals.
Bayelsa’s medal haul included 17 gold, 11 silver, and 2 bronze medals. Oyo State secured 9 gold and 3 bronze medals, while Delta State earned 6 gold, 9 silver, and 6 bronze medals.
Plateau State placed fourth with 15 medals, followed by Akwa Ibom (6 medals), Edo (21 medals), Osun (19 medals), Rivers (3 medals), Cross River (3 medals), and Ogun (4 medals), occupying fifth to tenth positions respectively.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) came 11th with 13 medals, while the Nigeria Police Force secured the 12th position with 12 medals. Bauchi State followed in 13th place with 3 medals, and Ekiti State finished 14th with 6 medals.
States without any medals included Nasarawa, Katsina, Kaduna, and Zamfara. Additionally, no state from the South East region participated in the championship.
