By Tony Nezianya
The beautiful Caribbean city of Port of Spain, in Trinidad and Tobago has just ended the successful staging of the 7th Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG).
It was a long-awaited event that was supposed to be held in 2021 but had to be rescheduled due to the global pandemic crisis
However, from August 4 to August 11, the youths from the 69 commonwealth nations, and territories gathered in the Port of Spain, the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to showcase their incredible God-given talent in sportsmanship in celebration of the CYG
Among the participating countries was a talented team of 25-man Team Nigeria. They consisted of 15 athletes and 10 contingent officials. They participated in 4 sports -cycling, swimming, athletics and para-athletics.
Filled with hope and determination, these young athletes aimed to make their country proud. Little did they know that their performances would leave a lasting mark on the Games.
Nigeria’s team gave a stellar performance, bringing home a total of 8 medals – 6 gold and 2 silver.
One of the athletes, Destiny Agbo etched her name into the history books by breaking a Games record in the para-Discus event F42-44/61-64.
This feat was even more remarkable as the event just made its debut in the Games, making Agbo’s result an instant record.
The Nigerian team had more victories to celebrate as Samuel Uchenna Ogazi continued his outstanding performance by also winning two gold medals in the 200 and 400 meters.
Faith Okwose, another young Nigerian athlete, displayed her speed and skill by claiming two gold medals in the 100 meters and the mixed doubles.
Justina Eyakpobeyan added to Nigeria’s success by winning two silver medals in the 100 meters and 200 meters. The quartet of Faith, Okon, Samuel, and Justina combined their skills to achieve victory in the 4×100 mixed doubles.
Nigeria’s achievements were not only a matter of pride for the athletes but also their fellow countrymen back home.
The youth of Nigeria had made a statement on the global stage, proving that they were a force to be reckoned with. Their dedication, hard work, and love for their sport had paid off.
Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel, the President of the Commonwealth Games Association, summed up the stellar performance of Team Nigeria thus:
”’ The Games were a commendable showcase of talent and sportsmanship, ” noting, these lads were simply ‘fantastic’.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Ismail Abubakar praised the team on behalf of the Federal Government and particularly commended athletics for contributing all the medals.
The overall winners of the Games were Australia, followed closely by England, Ireland, South Africa, and Nigeria.
In the end, it was a perfect blend of talent, determination, and sportsmanship that made the Commonwealth Games a truly memorable event for both the participants and the spectators.
As the sun set on the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago, the young athletes returned home with heads held high, knowing that they had left a lasting legacy on the Games.
Their journey had been filled with ups and downs, but in the end, their perseverance and passion brought them success.
The youth of Nigeria had proven that dreams could be turned into reality and that with hard work and commitment, anything was possible.
