Defending champions of the National Sports Festival, Team Rivers have been charged to further raise the bar in terms of the most gold medals won in the history of the Games.

Team Rivers set a record at the 17th National Sports Festival hosted by Rivers state with a total haul of 135 gold medals.

However, the chairman of Team Rivers Participation Committee at the 18th National Sports Festival, tagged Eko 2012, Engr Tele Ikuru has charged the state's contingent to win a minimum of 160 gold medals and further cement her place in the history of the games.

Tele Ikuru, who is also the Deputy Governor of Rivers, gave the charge while addressing the athletes that will represent the state at theirUniversityofPort Harcourtcamp on the eve of their departure forLagos.

He said his optimism of targeting a record 160 gold medals is hinged on how the state has prepared well for the games and the quality of talents available in the team.