The Chairman of Ekiti Boxing Association, Mr Israel Adesokan, has assured the state government and sports stakeholders of gold medals from his proteges at the forthcoming National Sports Festival.
Adesokan gave the assurance on Tuesday during the boxing trials held at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti, ahead of the festival schedule for May in Ogun.
The boxing trials had pugilist from Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos State and the Federal Capital territory (FCT) squaring up to test the strengths.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that boxers from Ekiti dominated the competition and emerged overall winners.
Adesokan congratulated the boxers on their impressive performance and assured them that the association would selection a formidable team based on merit that would make Ekiti proud at the festival.
He commended Gov. Biodun Oyebanji for prioritising sports development in the state and
Dr Olusola Osetoba, Technical Advisor to the Governor on Sports Development, for her invaluable support and guidance.
Similarly, the Secretary of the association, Mr Ayodeji Olowolafe, disclosed that the next round of the trials would take place in a few weeks.
He added that at the end of the trials, selected boxers would embark on a closed camping programme for proper training to enhance their skills and team work.
NAN reports that during the trials, Oluwakemi David of Ekiti defeated Olaleye Sakiru of FCT in the 57kg category
Omotola Wole of Ekiti secure a win against Bamidele Qudus of Ekiti in the 70kg category, and in the female category Alade Tobi of Ekiti defeated Agboola Tomisin of Ekiti in the 63kg category.
In a thrilling encounter, Esan Michael of Ekiti knocked out Ogunbiyi Solomon of Lagos in the 70kg category while Agboola Victor of Ekiti defeated Bamidele Qudus of Ekiti in the 60kg.
Ekiti boxers have two more opportunities to display their skills and secure a spot on the state team in subsequent trials ahead of the NSF.