Kirfi Emerges Overall Champion at 2025 Bauchi State Sports Festival
By Ahmed Ahmed
Kirfi Local Government Area has clinched the overall title at the 2025 Bauchi State Sports Festival after an impressive performance that earned it a total of 33 medals across various sporting events.
The victory was announced at the closing ceremony of the fourth edition of the festival, where the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development,
Alhaji Adamu Babayo Gabarin, revealed that Kirfi secured 21 gold, four silver and eight bronze medals to retain its top position on the medals table.
Speaking through the overseeing Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, the commissioner disclosed that Darazo Local Government Area finished second, winning 13 gold, three silver and nine bronze medals.
Ningi Local Government Area came third with a total haul of 38 medals, comprising eight gold, 12 silver and 18 bronze.
Alhaji Gabarin explained that the festival recorded massive participation, with 553 athletes drawn from 12 local government areas competing in more than ten sporting events.
According to him, a total of 450 medals were won by both male and female athletes during the week-long competition.
The commissioner congratulated winners across all categories and encouraged athletes who did not make the podium to intensify their training and preparations ahead of future editions of the annual festival.
He stressed that the event was designed to discover and nurture indigenous talents capable of representing Bauchi State at higher levels of competition.
He further commended the athletes and their officials for displaying a high level of discipline, maturity and sportsmanship throughout the festival, describing the conduct of participants as exemplary.
Alhaji Gabarin expressed appreciation to Governor Bala Mohammed for his consistent support to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, which he said has continued to strengthen sports development in the state.
He also thanked the 20 local government councils for their financial contributions and active participation in the festival.
Athletes competed in events such as athletics, football, volleyball, basketball, handball, table tennis, Kokawa, Dambe and Langa, with exhibition displays in gymnastics, cycling and arm wrestling, adding colour and excitement to the festival.
