Niger Delta Games : Tissa, Lucky Ayeni, Peremoboere shine as Team Edo Dethrone Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers In Swimming

As competition begins at the Olympics size swimming pool of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in the ongoing second Niger Delta Games in Benin,hosts Team Edo put up a remarkable performance as they displaced the powerhouses of swimming in the country namely; Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa winning six out of the nine gold medals available on Day one of the s swimming competition.

Talented Precious Tissa, Lucky Ayeni. and Joy Peremoboere’s performances gave a boost to the host team who claimed multiple gold medals to the delight of the Executive Chairman Edo State Sports Commission Hon Amadin Desmond Enabulele and his management team who were on ground to cheer their athletes to victory.

Like he did at the National Youth Games in Asaba last year, Precious Tissa won gold in the 50m Freestyle in the male category just as Lucky Ayeni finished first in the female category of the same event. Kolade Otunla won Gold in the 50m Backstroke (Male).

Edo Starec also won the 4x100m Freestyle Relay (Male) with Albert Akintokun, Biloha Simeon, Precious Tissa, Kolade Otunla in action.

In the Medley Relay (Female),Nkonye Ziitaven, Peremobere Joy, Ifelouwa Fumilayo, Lucky Ayeni proved formidable. Peremobere Joy harvested another gold in 100m Breaststroke.

In the 200m Individual Medley,Kolade Silva got Silver as Nkonye Ziitaven also bagged silver in the 200m Freestyle while Imegbodofo Teminijesu went home with Bronze in the 100m Breaststroke ( Male).

Team Edo however started poorly as they failed to win any of the first three events ; 200m Individual Medley (Men);200m Freestyle (Women ) and 100m Breaststroke (Men).

Team Delta clinched gold in two of those events while Ondo won in the 200m Freestyle.

The Heartbeat state came back into game , winning all the remaining six events of the day at the Pool side of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

Peremoboere opened the floodgates of gold medals when she eased to victory in the women’s 100m breaststroke, beating Success Ebigide of Delta. Bayelsa’s Gloria Epekele finished third.

Tissa followed followed by defeating the hard fighting Idangofaka Tubotamuno of Rivers state in Men’s 50m Freestyle final. Destiny Ajaka of Cross River finished third in the event.

Ayemi Lucky was extraordinary in Women’s 50m Freestyle same as Kolade Otunla in Men’s 50m breaststroke as well as Joy Peremoboere’s led Team Edo in 4x100m Medley Relay( women).

Team Edo staged a remarkable comeback to win the Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay in grand style.

Speaking on the state’s performance, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele who was delighted with the performances of his team,attributed Team Edo’s fine start to the Swimming competition to their adequate preparation preparation for the 2nd Niger Delta Games.

“Team Edo have been in camp for the past twenty-one days. We knew opponents are good. Early preparation is what gave us the results we are seeing here today.

“The team started preparing early knowing that we are hosting to win so the swimmers had a long time preparing for the Games,”He said.