Date: 2016-09-23

Aliyah Garba-Jimba, a nine-year-old chess player representing Kwara, says she wants to win the event's gold medal at the second edition of the National Youth Games (NYG) in Ilorin.9-year-old girl targets NYG chess gold for Kwara She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Ilorin that her mind is now set on the competition. "I love the game of chess and I am working hard to be the best in it. "I want to win gold for my state, and I hope I can beat other players to the medal.

"My coach has motivated me and I won't let him down," Garba-Jimba said. Also a total of 104 athletes will represent Kwara at the National Youth Games being hosted by the University of Ilorin, the state's Director of Sports, Tunde Kazeem, said on Thursday. Kazeem, who addressed the athletes at the State Sports Council premises before departing for the competition's Games Village, charged them to win laurels and be good ambassadors of the state.

"Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed is expecting nothing but victory from you, and there is therefore the need for you to raise your game," he said.

The Director of Sports also urged them to avoid any act capable of tarnishing their image or that of the state. Kwara athletes will compete in events in athletics, badminton, table tennis, tennis, para-table tennis, karate, taekwondo, judo and cricket.