By Ikemefuna Asika, Awka
The Chairman of Anambra State Sports Development Commission Estate-Patrick Onyedum has said that coaches and athletes of the State team will sustain preparations ahead of the 2023 National Youth Game (NYG) coming up in Asaba, Delta State.
Onyedum said this in Awka following the shift in the date of the Games from the September 7 through 17 to September 20 to 30.
The chairman who commended the team for their intense training since camp opened about two weeks ago noted that the postponement was coming with huge financial burden on the State.
He urged the athletes and coaches to sustain discipline in the areas of training and dieting in order to maintain fitness and be in shape for exploits when the games eventually begin.
“Two weeks is a long time at least for a team that is just trying to round off camping and about to depart, but we will not be distracted.
“We are going to maintain focus, we will ensure that our coaches and athletes remain in top shape because we are going to Asaba to make a statement,” he said.
He disclosed that the bulk of the athletes were those discovered at the just concluded Anambra School Sports Festival.
He described the NYG as a development programme noting that the emphasis was not on medal haul but on providing a platform for future national and international sports stars.
“We are going to win medals like every other state but you can be rest assured that we are coming with promising stars most of who were discovered at the school sports festival we held in June this year,” he said.
Anambra will take part in 18 sports including Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Chess, Cricket, Gymnastics, Judo, Karate, Rugby and Scrabble.
Others include Swimming, Taekwondo, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling, Weightlifting and Wushu Kung-Fu.
