By: IDNN Medal Tracker Desk
ABEOKUTA — The medal table battle at the Gateway Games 2024 has shifted gears into full throttle. At the end of Day 4, Bayelsa State is pulling clear at the summit, showing no signs of slowing as Delta and Rivers give desperate chase.
It’s gold vs depth. Momentum vs tradition. And every medal now has championship implications.
🏅 Top 5 Medal Standings – Day 4 Snapshot
| RANK | STATE | 🥇 Gold | 🥈 Silver | 🥉 Bronze | 🏆 TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayelsa | 30 | 12 | 11 | 53 |
| 2 | Delta | 20 | 8 | 25 | 53 |
| 3 | Rivers | 11 | 9 | 8 | 28 |
| 4 | Oyo | 9 | 7 | 13 | 29 |
| 5 | Lagos | 7 | 8 | 16 | 31 |
Bayelsa’s run — built on weightlifting dominance and combat sport consistency — has shaken the table. Delta, usually comfortable in front, now finds itself fighting from behind for the first time in nearly a decade.
📈 Breakdown: What’s Working
🟩 Bayelsa
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Weightlifting sweep (9 gold in one day)
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Combat sports boost: Taekwondo, Wrestling
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Swimming records (Otunla, Omolola)
🟦 Delta
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Consistent bronze accumulation
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Strength in Athletics, Tennis (Quadre expected to strike)
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Experienced depth in team events
🟥 Rivers
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Golds in wrestling, Taekwondo
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Strong youth showing in track prelims
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Surprise wins in basketball, handball
📉 The Underdog Surge
States like Osun, Edo, and Plateau are shaking up the midfield with explosive single-day hauls, particularly in weight classes, indoor games, and martial arts. Though not likely to challenge the top three, their rise is tightening the Top 10.
🟨 Standout Movers:
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Osun: 8 Gold (19 medals total)
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Edo: 6 Gold but 58 total medals (high silver/bronze count)
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Akwa Ibom: 14 total medals — surging in Taekwondo and Tennis
🔮 The Road Ahead: Events That Could Flip the Table
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Athletics Finals Begin Today – traditionally Delta’s playground
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Combat Sports Finals – Bayelsa eyeing gold expansion
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Team Event Knockouts – Lagos, Rivers, and FCT lurking
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Tennis Finals (Quadre, Ekpeyong, others) – potential game-changers
🎯 Quote of the Day:
“It’s no longer who has medals. It’s who has gold when it counts,” said one senior NSC official.
“Bayelsa has sent a message. But Delta has the arsenal. The war isn’t over.”