...As Team Edo begins contest in tennis, weightlifting 

From our sports desk, Benin 

Atheletes awaiting screening 

An Official at the 7th Edition of the National Youth Games currently holding in Asaba, Delta State, who prefer to be anonymous has faulted the method of screening athletes adopted by the National Screening Committee for the 10-day long youth games.

Speaking, with our Correspondent on Saturday ahead of the commencement of the games proper, Rev. Asemota expressed displeasure with the alleged facial screening of the athletes, saying that it is against earlier agreement of the usage of National Identification Number (NIN).

He said that prior to the commencement of this year's games, it was agreed that screening of athletes would be done through their NIN, but wondered why facial assessment of the athletes was adopted by officials of the National Youths Sports Commission .

He said: "I was there yesterday (Friday), the screening exercise was not okay because the agreement and the law said we should use National Identification Number (NIN) to screen all the athletes, but we discovered that the NIN was not used, instead they were screening people facially. This is not right because there are some children who are 12 years old but with older facial look.

"There is no way one can rule out partiality in the exercise. I protested against the way the screening was being conducted.

"Most of our people were screened out. Not only  from Edo, but athletes from other States were also screened out. This is not  good.

"We even have some children who came from UK and America to compete but were screened out initially because of their body sizes. 

"How can you screen out somebody with UK and America passports where their ages are clearly stated? So, I have to make case for the athletes with their passports and they were later considered to participate in the games.

"I believe they should improve on the screening exercise because if you want to get the real age for the youth games, athletes should be screened with NIN."

Meanwhile, Edo State contingent today (Saturday) begins their quest for the top position in this year's games with contests in Table Tennis and weightlifting events.

In the table tennis boys singles event,  Edo State 12-year old Aleoba Emmanuel is paired against players from Nasarawa and Ondo States in group 3 while in the female category, 12-year old Azeta Eromosele from Edo will square up against Promise Okon John and Temitayo Adebayo from Ondo State in group 6.

In the weightlifting event, Esther Chijioke will be representing the State in 45KG just as little Abdumalik Haruna will be competing in the 49KG categories respectively.