NSF: 14,000 athletes to compete for medals in Asaba

<p>A total of 14,000 athletes are expected to compete at the forthcoming National Sports Festival (NSF) in Asaba.</p>, <p>This is contained in a statement issued by Mohammed Manga, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development (FMYSD) on Monday.</p>, <p>Manga quoted Sunday Dare, Minister of FMYSD, as saying that he was optimistic that the competition will expose new set of athletes that will compete favourably with their counterparts globally.</p>, <p>“I am optimistic that at the end of the competition, budding talents will emerge and the country will witness more podium performances through them in subsequent global competitions,” he said.</p>, <p>The minister also commended the Delta Government for its dogged determination towards ensuring the reality of the 21st NSF.</p>, <p>While stressing that the Games will also help in strengthening the unity of Nigerians, Dare called on participating states to go all out for medals.</p>, <p>Dare called on all sports loving Nigerians to create time to grace the festival, saying that the National Sports Festival is the “Nigerian Olympics”.</p>, <p>The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 36 states and the FCT will be competing in over 30 different sports in the Festival beginning from Monday to December 10.</p>