African Games: Ebonyi proud of gold medal-winning weightlifting products

The Ebonyi Youth Development and Sports Ministry on Sunday expressed its pride at the performance of its weightlifting products who won medals at the just-ended 12th African Games in Morocco.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that weightlifting contributed the highest haul of Team Nigeria’s medals with 16 gold, 13 silver and 18 bronze totaling 47 medals.

Emmanuel Utobo, the state’s Director of Sports, told NAN in Abakaliki that the state’s athletes who were part of the medals’ haul included Chika Amalagha and Joy Eze.

“Eze won three gold medals in the female 65kg category, making her that category’s best on the continent, while Amalagha won one gold and two silver medals in the female 54kg category.

“The state is proud of both athletes because we discovered and adequately harnessed their talents and brought them into national and continental limelight,” he said.

The Director of Sports attributed the weightlifters’ feat to the enabling environment and support provided to sportsmen and women by the state government.

He added that this had enabled them to strive in their chosen career.

“The governor, David Umahi, through his robust sports policies provided adequate facilities for the athletes to train while enhancing their welfare.

“The coaches have also been adequately motivated to effectively impact the required techniques and tactics into the athletes,” Utobo said.

He said even though the athletes presently have stints with Rivers and Delta respectively, there were possibilities that the state government would host them on return from the games.

“We will adequately inform the state government of this on the athletes’ return from Morocco,” the Ebonyi Director of Sports said.

NAN reports that Team Nigeria finished in an impressive second position at the Games with 46 gold, 33 silver and 48 bronze for a total of 127 medals.(NAN)