Delta State contingent to the 19th National Sports Festival and the state Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa have been commended for winning the games.

Anioma Media Professionals (AMP) hailed the Delta State contingent to the National Sports Festival in Abuja, and urged Dr. Okowa not to relent on his pledge to develop sports infrastructure across the state.

Team Delta topped the overall medals table with an incredible haul of 351 medals made up of 163 gold, 87 silver and 101 bronze to retain its title and its total domination of the competition that began in 1973. Rivers State placed second with 69 gold, 58 silver and 66 bronze.

The state took a commanding lead of the Abuja edition which ended on Sunday, December 16.

Spokesman for AMP, Ken Ugbechie, said the victory of Team Delta was inspired by the motivation given to the sports men and women that represented the state by Dr. Okowa who promised to reward winners at the games. Consequently, the Delta contingent went all out to maintain its enviable record of all round excellence in sports and “to justify the resources being committed to human development in the state.”

Ugbechie, who is the Director of Media and Publicity for the Anioma Media Professionals said the achievement of Team Delta is a testimony of “the return on investment in sport infrastructure by the state government and more importantly, a show of the determination by the athletes  to excel and launch themselves into lime light.”

He said Governor Okowa’s promise to upgrade sporting facilities in various parts of the state “is a welcome development especially at this time when talented sports people can leverage it to better their living conditions.”

Ugbechie said sports apart from being a vehicle for national unity is also a reliable tool for poverty alleviation and eradication. He urged Dr. Okowa to continue in his avowal to return Delta State to its sporting glory.