Niger State will be represented by an 80-man contingent at the 6th National Youth Games starting in Ilorin on Oct. 15.
Baba Sheshi, Director of Sports, Ministry of Youth and Sports, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Wednesday that the contingent comprised 52 athletes and 28 officials.
He said the state would participate in 16 events, which include athletics, badminton, basketball, golf, handball, judo, karate and scrabble.
Others are table tennis, taekwondo, lawn tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, squash, Para-athletics and Para-table tennis.
He expressed optimism that the athletes would do the state proud by winning medals because of their level of preparation.
The director said the athletes and officials were fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Also speaking with NAN, Mukhtar Ahmed, Coordinator, Special Sports, in the ministry, said since the inception of the games in 2013, Niger State athletes had been winning medals.
“This time will not be an exception by God’s grace. We shall return with medals as usual because we prepared for it,’’ he said.
Yusuf AbdulHakeem, a 13-year-old boxer in the light-flyweight category who also spoke with NAN, expressed optimism to win medals for the state.
The 2021 games earlier scheduled to start on Oct.10 and end on Oct. 20 will now start on Oct. 15 and end on Oct. 20.