The maiden South-East Zonal Weightlifting Championship has ended in Umuahia, with the host State, Abia, winning 8 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medals to top the final medals table.
Imo State won 2 Gold, 3 Silver and 1 Bronze while Anambra State won 3 Silver and 1 Bronze; Ebonyi won 2 Silver and 2 Bronze while Enugu State occupied the bottom of the table with 3 Bronze medals.
The championship was used to discover new weightlifting champions for Abia and Nigeria, including Divine Emmanuel who won Gold in the 55kg category with a 155kg lift.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwaobilor Nwadinma Ananaba, praised the competing spirit of the athletes, saying that the competition exposed new stars.
Ananaba, who was represented by the Abia State Director of Sports, Obioma George, praised Governor Alex Otti for hosting the tournament and for procuring modern weightlifting equipment for the athletes.
Also speaking, the Coordinator, National Sports Commission, South-East zone, Chief Bernard Ezema, said the zone is reclaiming its lost place in the sporting sector.
Ezema noted that through regular engagement of youths in sporting activities, Abia State government is contributing to the peace in the South-East by dissuading them from deviant activities.
Speaking at the Indoor hall of Umuahia Township Stadium, a young weightlifter, Divine Emmanuel, said the Gold medal he won for Abia State would be a stepping stone to represent Abia and Nigeria at national and international sports events.