By Destiny Obinna
Yaba emerged the biggest winners on the track, claiming both male and female 100-metre titles, while Opebi and Ago Palace secured the male and female football crowns respectively at the second edition of i-Fitness GameFest in Lagos.
The competition, held at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Surulere, on Saturday, November 7, brought together athletes and fitness enthusiasts from 14 i-Fitness mainland branches for a day of sporting activities and inter-branch rivalry.
Under the theme, “Different Squad, Unstoppable Together”, the event featured football, sprint races, tug of war and sack races, with six branches sharing seven championship titles.
Yaba dominated the sprint events, winning the men’s and women’s 100m races. Surulere finished second in the men’s category, while Ikorodu took the runner-up position in the women’s race.
In football, Opebi defeated Magodo to emerge champions in the men’s competition, while Ago Palace claimed the women’s title ahead of Acme.
Gbagada demonstrated superior strength to win the tug-of-war contest, with Iponri finishing second. Egbeda won the men’s sack race ahead of Magodo, while Surulere triumphed in the women’s event, finishing ahead of Egbeda.
Speaking at the event, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of i-Fitness, Mr Foluso Ogunwale, said the GameFest was conceived to promote sporting participation, healthy competition and a stronger fitness culture beyond conventional gym activities.
Ogunwale said the competition would become a regular feature, with plans to organise it twice yearly and expand participation to other locations.
He disclosed that i-Fitness was also considering bringing its Island and Mainland branches together for a bigger competition, while plans were underway to extend the initiative to Abuja and Port Harcourt.
Head of Corporate Sales and Partnerships, Mr Derek Nwafor, said the competition provided members with an opportunity to interact, showcase their sporting abilities and enjoy physical activities outside their regular gym environment.
He emphasised that regular exercise and strength training were important for maintaining physical fitness, building muscle and promoting healthy ageing.
The organisers expressed satisfaction with participation, noting that thousands had registered ahead of the event, which also enjoyed support from corporate partners and sports brands.
The maiden edition was held among Island branches earlier in the year, with the Mainland edition marking another step in the company’s ambition to build a wider sporting and fitness community.
