By Femi Atolagbe

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The General Manager of Ondo State Sports Council (OSSC), Mr Sunday Fagite has charged medalists at the 2024 grassroots development competition to be focused on their training.

Over 20 gymnasts have competed in the competition exclusively organised for the gymnastics sport at the indoor hall of Ondo State Sports complex, Akure.

Fagite while praising the gymnasts for their beautiful performances, said they should not relent on their oars, just because they have won medals, saying they have started on a good note and it’s imperative for them to keep it up in order for them to become national and international champions.

He added that they should prepare themselves very well, adding that most of the athletes will represent the state at this year’s National Youth Games and National Sports Festival.

“You have bright futures all you need to do is to concentrate on your training and your education.

He said :This is the first competition to be organized under my leadership as the General Manager of the council and I’m honored to be here with all of you, I must say that you have all started well and we will end well together.

The General Manager commended the sponsors of the competition, Prince Adesunkanmi Adesida and a Basketball agent, Bode James for deeming it fit to put their resources together for the development of sports in the state despite the current situation in the country.

He therefore, appealed to other individuals and corporate bodies to join hands with the government to develop sports in the state and at the national level.

In a chat with Sporting Hope, one of the sponsors , Adesunkanmi Adesida said he decided to sponsor the competition, not to make the athletes happy alone but to aid their development.

He said competition is one of the ways to get the best out of any athlete, saying he loves seeing young and serious athletes growing fast.

“I Iove to encourage athletes through competition, if they are exposed to competitive games internally, by the time they go out for competitions, it won’t be strange to them.”

Gymnastics coach, Adekemi Ademuwagun thanked the General Manager and the sponsors for their supports, disclosing that her plan for the athletes was to groom them to become stars in future.

She pleaded with the sports council and the state government to assist them in the area of facility and training equipments, saying the state has always been blessed with talented athletes in all sports.

According to her, I want their parents to support and encourage them with kits and other things they need for training, I can tell you that these athletes are fantastic ,all they need is encouragement from their parents and the government.

Some of them have represented the state at youth games and won medals for the state, and some newly discovered athletes among them will also represent the state in this year’s games.

Medals and other prizes were later presented to all the medalists.