Defending champions Team Delta have entered closed camp with over 600 athletes as preparations intensify for the ninth edition of the National Youth Games, scheduled to take place in Asaba from August 26 to September 6, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The athletes are currently camped at St. Brigid’s School, the Delta Sports Commission hostel, and the hockey hostel in Okpanam.
According to Festus Ohwojero, an official of the Local Organising Committee, the final list of athletes and officials to represent Delta will be released later this week.
“We have over 600 athletes in three different camps right now,” Ohwojero said. “Very soon, the number of athletes that will represent Team Delta in the ninth National Youth Games will be made known to the public.”
Meanwhile, Team Bayelsa impressed at the recently concluded South-South zonal eliminations in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where they paraded a 250-athlete contingent across 10 sports.
In basketball, Bayelsa’s female team outclassed Rivers 17–9 before thrashing Akwa Ibom 16–2 to finish first. The male side defeated Akwa Ibom 18–14, beat Edo 7–1, but narrowly lost 17–19 to Rivers in added time, still securing qualification.
Bayelsa also shone in football, winning all three matches in the boys’ category, while the girls won two games to keep their hopes of qualification alive.