Bayelsa State has surged to the top of the medals table at the 22nd National Sports Festival after an action-packed Day 3, showcasing dominance across several events. With a haul of six gold, two silver, and one bronze medal, the South-South state currently leads the overall standings as competition intensifies across venues.
Closely trailing Bayelsa is Oyo State, which also boasts six medals in total, but with a slight edge in gold count. Oyo has so far secured four gold, one silver, and one bronze, placing them in strong contention as the festival progresses. Lagos State occupies third position, having amassed a commendable tally of three gold, four silver, and three bronze medals.
Rivers State sits in fourth place after clinching two gold, three silver, and one bronze medal, while the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) have stunned many observers by climbing to fifth on the table. The junior team, regarded as underdogs, have bagged two gold, one silver, and one bronze medal, a performance that has drawn admiration for their grit and determination.
Defending champions and perennial favourites, Delta State, are currently in seventh position, a surprising placement given their history of dominance at previous editions. Delta’s medal count after Day 3 stands at one gold, one silver, and one bronze, a performance that has left fans and officials hopeful for a late surge in the coming days.
In total, 71 medals have been awarded as of the end of Day 3—comprising 23 gold, 23 silver, and 25 bronze medals. With the festival gaining more traction, the atmosphere across competition venues continues to buzz with excitement, passion, and increasing intensity.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has issued a call for accuracy in medal reporting. Speaking to journalists covering the event, he urged media practitioners to rely solely on the official medals table provided by the Commission rather than unverified figures circulating online.
“As the festival progresses, it’s vital that the public receives correct and credible information. Only the NSC’s official medals table should be used as a source,” Olopade cautioned.
With Wednesday’s events set to bring more drama, the race for medals is expected to heat up, as states aim to improve their standings and athletes continue to push boundaries in pursuit of glory at Nigeria’s biggest multi-sport event.
