head coach of waved The State Badminton Association, Tumise Olalehin, has said that its athletes are ready to represent the state well in the next 21 National Sports Festival (NSF).
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that on 21 NSF will take place from November 28 to December 10 at Delta Condition.
Delta State won the 20th edition of the Festival in Edo in 2021.
Olalehin, in an interview with YAYA on sunday in akurehe said his athletes were physically and mentally prepared for the competition.
He said it didn’t bother him that some states were already poaching athletes, along with the fact that international athletes would be allowed to participate in the competition.
The head coach, who thanked the government and president of the association, Mr. Olu Ajanakufor the support, he said though he couldn’t predict the number of medals his athletes would win for the state.
Olalehin thanked the sports council for the assurance that the athletes would compete in this edition.
“We have prepared very well for this festival, we have players playing for the national team.
Most of our players have returned and thanks to the support of the state government to pay their allowances, sponsoring them for the tournament even before the festival, they have accumulated a lot of experience.
“We have players who have just returned from the international tournament, with training and with the support of the sports council, our president, chief Olu Ajanaku, has done well as president.
“I think that mentally, physically, we have prepared the athletes, by the grace of God.
“We cannot say the number of medals that we are going to win, because many players are going to be recruited from one state to another, including international players, but we have prepared all the athletes.
“The anticipation is going to be great because it will give the players a chance to sell themselves to Nigeria because we have a lot of competitions next year,” he said.
According to him, the state will be represented by six players; two male and four female players.
NAN reports that badminton was not part of the games that Ondo State competed in at the 20th edition of the festival.
News sourceCredit: NAN
