The team set a new school sports festival record in swimming and has won 59 gold, 29 silver and 20 bronze medals to emerge tops in the swimming event of the competition.

Amadi told National Mirror that the massive haul of medals by Cross River contingent indicated that Governor Liyel Imoke’s sports development policy has yielded dividends.

“The coaches and administrators of sports in Cross River State painstakingly went into schools to discover these young lads and groomed them to this level they are now and it is worthy of emulation,” Amadi said.

“They need good training, focus and necessary incentives to enable them excel in their chosen career,” he added.

Meanwhile, at the Karate event concluded yesterday at the Kwara State Sports Complex, Ilorin, Anambra dominated with 5 gold and 4 bronze medals to emerge tops, while Cross River won 2 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals to place second in the event. Ondo finished third in the Karate event with 2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals.