The Abia State Sports Council was thrown into an atmosphere of excitement as the state government donated weightlifting equipment worth millions of naira to support the development of the sport in the state.
The equipment, which meets international standards, includes barbells and weight plates and is expected to enhance training and competition for weightlifters representing Abia State.
Speaking on the donation, the Director of Sports, Comrade George Obioma, expressed profound gratitude to the state governor, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, for his continued commitment and support towards sports development in Abia.
“The whole sports family is thanking the state governor, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, for all his support and encouragement for sports development in the state,” he said.
Coincidentally, the donation came as the first edition of the Abia State South-East Zonal Open Weightlifting Championship got underway at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Umuahia Township Stadium.
The championship has attracted weightlifters from the five South-East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, who are competing for honours across various categories.
Abia made an impressive start to the competition, clinching the first gold medal of the championship through Divine Bernard. The Abia lifter successfully lifted 115kg in the 55kg category of the clean and jerk event, giving the host state an early boost in the competition.
By Joseph Jacob