National Sports Festival: After day 3, Bayelsa tops medals table

The 22nd National Sports Festival continued to thrill fans on Day 3 with impressive performances across various venues, and Bayelsa State has emerged as the early front-runner on the official medals table.

According to the summary released by the Office of the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bayelsa currently leads with 6 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze medal, showcasing their strong start to the multi-sport event.

Oyo State follows closely in second place, boasting 4 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze, while Lagos State sits in third with 3 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze medals.

Cross River State occupies fourth position with 3 gold medals, while Rivers State rounds out the top five with 2 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze.

In a notable surprise, the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) have impressed with 2 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze to claim sixth position, punching well above expectations in a competitive field.

Meanwhile, defending champions and perennial favourites Delta State are off to a slower start, landing in seventh place with just 1 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze after Day 3.

So far, a total of 71 medals have been awarded: 23 gold, 23 silver, and 25 bronze. With competition heating up and athletes finding their rhythm, expectations are high for a surge in both quality and intensity in the coming days.

Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, has urged journalists and media houses to rely solely on official data from the Commission when reporting medal standings to avoid the spread of inaccurate information.

Sports action resumes on Wednesday across venues in Abeokuta, Ikenne, and Sagamu as the festival gathers further momentum, promising more thrilling performances and shifts on the medals table.