DEFENDING champion, Team Lagos, showed its intention to retain the title at this year's National School Sports Festival, tagged Calabar 2011, with the Coach John Oyewuwo-tutored gymnastic team leading the way in the quest for excellence.The gymnastics team, inspired by the duo of Adenike Oyekunle and Temitope Isa, amassed majority of the medals at this year's tournament, winning 14 out of the 30 gold medals at stake in Calabar, while its arch-rival, Team Ondo, picked second spot in the overall result with 10 gold medals.Aside the 14 gold medals, Team Lagos also won six silver and six bronze medals to emerge as the best team in the gymnastic event, while Team Ondo also added 11 silver and seven bronze medals.To be among the top three in the event, Team Ekiti won four gold, five silver and 10 bronze medals, while the fourth team on the medals' haul, Team Cross River, picked two gold, two silver and four bronze medals.An excited Coach Oyewuwo told The Guardian that he was happy guiding the team to victory in the event, saying this was made possible by the enormous support the team got from the government.'In terms of equipment, I think we can boast having the best while the introduction of gymnastic to schools in the state has indeed helped to throw up new talents that did the state proud in Calabar. But we are not going to relent as we will continue to encourage more students to embrace the sports,' he said.Meanwhile, leader of the Team Lagos contingent to Calabar 2011, Omobola Babs-Akinyeye, believes it would be impossible for any state to stop the team from holding on to the overall title it won at the 2010 edition in Kano.Apart from the 2008 edition of the competition hosted by Lagos, the state has always been among the top three and the performance this term in Calabar has confirmed its readiness to retain the title.At Ogun 2009 competition, the team came second behind the host, while it topped the table at the Kano 2010 edition.Affirming the state's intention to hold on to the title, Babs-Akinyeye told The Guardian yesterday that the team really prepared very well for the championship.'We were never caught unawares or unprepared because we really did our home work very well before coming to Calabar. So what we are just doing is just to prove our worth against other teams because we know we are going back with the overall trophy. Our athletes are capable and we are sure they will give their best in this competition,' she said.
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