National Youth Games: We Are Set To Win Tennis Laurels For Team Nasarawa— Coach Shaibu Usman

By Michael Umudjon

With the 8th National Youth Games tagged “Asaba 2024,” were over 5000 athletes will be competing at the Stephen Keshi Stadium and various venues in Delta State.

Coach Shaibu Usman has reiterated that his tennis players are ready to beat all opponents.
“My players are ready to beat all opponents we have trained hard. Despite two of my players been screened out yesterday for over age , I will be protesting that at the federation level to see that they are reinstated.”

On twelve (12) year old tennis sensation, Ismail Shaibu who doubles as his son and came third at a just concluded tournament in Lagos, he said his boy is ready to defeat some of the players he met there. “My boy is ready to play good Tennis, I saw 10 of the players who played at the tournament, however we have trained hard.”

Meanwhile, Team Nasarawa Tennis players will know their Opponents when the draws is done later today (12 September, 2024)

Speaking on the team’s readiness, the Director of Sports, Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development Shammah Lawrence, expressed confidence in the athletes’ preparation. He highlighted the dedication shown during training sessions, saying, “Our athletes have worked hard, and we believe they will give their best in all competitions. We are optimistic about bringing back medals.”

Nasarawa team, comprises of 132 individuals—104 athletes and 33 coaches and officials—departed for Asaba on Tuesday, fully prepared to compete in 15 sports, including Boxing, Hockey, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Cycling, Table Tennis, Tennis.

Delta State, renowned for its rich sporting culture, is the host for this year’s event, and the stage is set for an exciting celebration of youth talent and sportsmanship.

The National Youth Games have become an important event in the nation’s sports calendar, offering young athletes 15 years and below the opportunity to compete at a national level and hone their skills. The Games are also a key part of Nigeria’s talent identification and development strategy, helping to groom the next generation of sporting stars.