By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) team is blazing the trail in the ongoing 12th biennial Nigeria Police Games taking place at different venues in Anambra State with a total of seven gold medals as at Tuesday.

The game which entered the fourth day on Tuesday has zone eleven second on the list with three gold medals.

A breakdown of the table shows that five zones – 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 – have one gold medal respectively in Scrabble, Taekwondo, 200 metres, 1km pursuit for men and women race as well as kyorugi while Zone 2 has harvested eight silver medals.

Coming behind Zone 2 on the table are Zones 5 and 6 with one silver medal each.

Basketball, handball and volleyball events kicked off at the Ekwueme centre on Tuesday while Taekwando, wrestling and wrestling are still ongoing at the Oma event centre in Awka.

Venue for other events include shooting at Oji River, table tennis at the National Youth Service Corps Camp Mbaukwu, badminton and kick boxing while football and cycling take place at Otuocha stadium in Anambra East council area.

Hockey is slated to take place at Tansi College, Chess at Golden Tulip Hotel Agulu while Squash takes place at Windtess Hotel while shooting takes place at the Oji River police college in Enugu state.

Speaking with journalists, the chairman organising committee for the game, AIG Usman Baba Alkali, said the games have taken off well saying that the competition has been healthy so far.

He added: “I urge all the contingents to see the game as one that would bring out the best in us. It is not all about winning but participating in the event. The game would continue to get better as it goes.”

In an interview with one of the athletes, Akalade Azeezat, she expressed gratitude to God that she finally won her first gold medal in Taekwando competition after four years of joining the Nigeria police force.

The 23-year-old officer said she has competed in four competitions out of which she won two bronze medals.

She added: :I am so delighted, today is my happiest day and I hope that one day I will represent Nigeria in an international competition. I am grateful to my mentors who encouraged me to join the police Force.”