Granddaughter of renowned constitutional lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba(SAN), Olaana Onyejianya, is dominating the swimming event at the ongoing Seventh National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.
She is competing for Team Bayelsa. Onyejianya has won all the shades of medals at the Games, including gold in 100m backstroke, silver in 50m backstroke and bronze in mixed medley.
She came to Asaba with her mother, Berveley Agbakoba-Onyejianya, a sports lawyer, policy adviser and football club owner. Agbakoba-Onyejianya is manager to the young swimmer.
She started swimming at age six with the support of her parents and grand grandparents.The young girl said she had been training with Team Bayelsa in the past four years.
Another athlete, who is receiving attention of many spectators in Asaba is 10-year-old golfer, Olanrewaju Omowonuola, who added her name to the list of gold winners for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, yesterday.
A JSS 2 student of Aflon Digital Academy in the FCT, Omowonuola won by 2up in the girls’ match play event.
The elated Omowonuola expressed her joy saying: “I feel very happy and I also want to thank God for what he has done now. I know that my fasting and prayer did not go in vain.
“It was not easy at all. I was 5up and the girl mounted pressure and I thought I had lost already but thank God that I got 2up to beat her.”
She is optimistic that she could be Nigeria’s number one in golf one day. “If I can work hard and not allow anything to distract me, it could be possible to be Nigeria’s number one.” Olarewaju stated.
She commended her mother and friends for their encouragement and support that gave her the gold.
Meanwhile, there was jubilation in the cam of Team Gombe, yesterday, as Danladi Lamech won their first NYG medal in Asaba.
Gombe Athletics Association members, and Academy Athletes representing the Savannah State in Asaba, could not contain their joy when the young Danladi Lamech won a bronze medal.
Featuring in 1500m final, Danladi crossed the line in third place to throw his teammates into wild jubilation.
It was the first time a medal was won in the athletics history in Gombe State.
The athlete was grateful to the magnanimity of Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, who single-handedly sponsored 25 of his Academy athletes to participate in NYG in Asaba after the state government allegedly failed to release funds.
An emotional Danladi later dedicated his first medal to Gara Gombe, and the people of the State.
“This is the first time a medal is coming for my state. I don’t care about the colour because my teammates and I are happy, he said through an interpreter.”
The bronze medalist beliefs that with more assistance from the likes of the State’s Athletics Association Chairman Hon. Ahmed GaraGombe, who brought them to Asaba, athletics and other sports will improve in Gombe State.
“I want companies and our government to help sports in Gombe. We have a good stadium, (Pantami), but no sports facilities for athletes to use for discovery and sustainable growth,” he said.
Another major surprise at the NYG, came yesterday, when Team Yobe won a gold medal in Shooting and a bronze in Judo events.
It would be recalled that Team Yobe is only participating in five events, having registered for six events in the tournament.
The events are Judo, Shooting, Hockey, Football and Beach ball.
