Benin – Talents discovered at the ongoing two-day South-South U-18 boxing championships in Benin, will be harnessed for future competitions, according to Yemi Usikaye, the coordinator, National Sports Commission, South-South Zone 1.

Usikaye  on Thursday in Benin said  that the talents would be groomed for the forthcoming 18th National Sports Festival scheduled for November in Lagos.

He said that 20 boxers comprising 10 boys and 10 girls from Edo and Delta were taking part in the competition scheduled to end on Friday.

“The third state, Bayelsa, which make up the zone, is absent due to some constraints,’’ the coordinator said.

He said that Edo has the highest number of 14 participants and Delta six.

“It would have being more interesting if Bayelsa had participated, but in any case, boxers from Edo mostly rule the boxing competition among the states in the country,” he said.

Usikaye said the competition was aimed at discovering talents and addressing youths’ restiveness.

He listed the weight categories in the competition as light fly, fly weight, light weight, welter, light welter, middle weight, and heavy weight. (NAN)