NYG 2018: Team Lagos In Bright Start At Zonal Eliminations In Abeokuta

Team Lagos Basketball boys in action against Ekiti  State at the south west Zonal Elimination of the National Youth Games in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Tuesday . 

As the South West Zonal Eliminations for the 2018 National Youth Games (NYG) gets underway in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Team Lagos have continued to soar higher on the first day of hostilities in the competition.

The Zonal Elimination, which began on Tuesday with arrival of teams from the south west states, will end on Friday.

In their first match, Lagos State basketball team in the boys category defeated their counterparts from Ekiti State 9-7 points, while the girls team from Lagos beat Ekiti 8-6 points in one of Wednesday’s matches played at Ake Sports Centre in Abeokuta.

In handball fixtures, the first set of matches played on Wednesday, Osun State teams could not match the superior power of the Lagos team. Team Lagos (girls) beat Osun State 23-3 points, while Lagos boys defeated Osun Team 26-3 points. Hostilities continue in the Zonal Eliminations on Thursday at the sports centre.

Winning streak of Team Lagos was also seeing in cricket where they showed their supremacy during their game against Osun State at the cricket oval at Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta.

Team Lagos won the toss and elected to bowl first putting Osun state to bat. Osun batted and was only able to put up 23 runs on board in 10 over. Lagos team went in to chase and score 24 runs in 2.5 over for the loss of no wicket.

Lagos state team are in the finals of cricket event to be played on Thursday.

PM EXPRESS reports that the good showing of Lagos athletes in this youth based championships could be connected to the sound grassroots sports development programmes going on in the state. Since Governor Akinwunmi Ambode assumed office, these programmes are targeted at developing sports at the school levels.

Team Lagos are competing in 7 Team Sports; Cricket (male), Handball, Football (male), Basketball, Hockey (male), Volleyball (female) and Beach Volleyball (female). No fewer than 95 athletes are representing Lagos at the Zonal Eliminations.

The 4th National Youth Games (AYG) will hold in Ilorin, Kwara State, in September, 2018.