Oyo and Rivers states yesterday announced their  intentions to top the medals table at the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival by winning gold medals in the male and female 200 meters cycling races.

Edward Osim representing Rivers put up a superlative performance from the beginning of the race held atEric Moore Road, Surulere. He won the gold medal at the expense of Enoruwa Marvis of Ogun state who settled for the silver just as Issa Mohammed of Kaduna State won the bronze.

In the female category,Oyo State cyclist, Durogbade Joke against all odds recorded the first gold for the state after defeating Juliet Akaegbu of Rivers State in the keenly contested finals of the 200m event while Clara Enadogbor of Delta State picked the bronze medal.

Speaking shortly after the race, Osim noted that he came toLagosto win four gold medals even as he promised that he will not disappoint the Government of Rivers State that invested heavily in in him and sports development generally.

" I am here to defend the titles I won at the last sports Festival inPort Harcourtand I will not disappoint "My target is to win four gold medals at the Games because I want to show the whole Nigerians that Rivers State is the best cycling state in the country.

Silver medalist at the cycling event, Enoruwa Marvis born of Edo parentage declared that he decided to represent Ogun State at the festival as a way of repaying the state's magnanimity towards him.

He told our correspondent, that he would have loved to represent his home state but decided to dump them because they have done little or nothing to encourage athletes to excel.