Ese Ukpeseraye, has displayed uncommon skills at the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival, holding in Benin City, Edo State capital to ensure Team Delta continues to dominate the medal table at the Edo 2020 Games.
Ukpeseraye won gold medals in 80km road race, 1000m race, 500m and individual Time trials in addition to the two silver medals she had earlier hauled in Team Time Trial.
As at Saturday night, Team Delta had won 54 gold, 42 silver and 43 bronze followed closely by the host state, Edo with 49 gold, 52 silver and 43 bronze.
Bayelsa had 26 gold, 22 silver and 24 bronze while Rivers had 11 gold, 13 silver and 23 bronze.
Delta state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa had spurred Team Delta, promising to reward each gold medal with N1 million.
Some of Team Delta gold medalists include, two sisters, Rita and Joy – golf; Murifat Folarin – weightlifting women (3 Gold); 5 gold medals in karate; Asuquo Goodnews – kickboxing; Linus Caroline – kungfu; Ibrahim Baba – hammer; Sunday Adebayo – men discus; Sefiu Ojeleye – para athletics, 100m wheelchair; Esther Lawrence – discus and Clinton Opute – swimming.
Esther Ine Augustine also, won a gold medal for Team Delta in Judo; Team Delta – Squash Female Singles Event; Timipame-ere Akiayefa – 200 meters backstroke women event; Judo – gold; Nmoh Ifeakachukwu – 200m; Osamezu Foresight – swimming, breaststroke; and the first gold medalist for Team Delta at the festival, Akiayefa Timi – swimming, butterfly.
After setting Delta as a trailblazer at national sports summit, Multi-gold sensation, Ese Ukpeseraye said she is looking forward to the fantastic cash reward from Governor Okowa.
Winning four gold, and two silver medals, Ukpeseraye said: “I expect my reward from the government after putting in my best and doing the state proud”.
She recounted her sordid experience at the 19th National Sports Festival hosted by the Federal Capital Territory where she represented Rivers state but did not get any reward.
“I won four gold medals for Rivers state at the last festival but I never got any reward. I am excited that it paid off at the end. Self-discipline also contributed a lot to my victories”, the multiple gold winner enthused.
