Second batch of athletes arrives Accra
Veteran table tennis star, Offiong Edem, yesterday, became Nigeria’s first athlete to earn a medal at the 13th African Games by finishing third in the women’s singles of the event holding at the Accra International Conference Centre.
The Spain-based star played her best matches in the last 16 and quarterfinal when she defeated the Alhodaby twins – Marwa and Mariam to join the league of medalists in the women’s singles of the games.
Set up against defending champion, Dina Meshref of Egypt in the semifinal, Edem caved in to a 0-4 defeat to settle for a bronze medal, just as she did at the 2019 edition in Rabat, Morocco.
“I am so happy that we were able to attend the last World Championships in Korea, which helped my game. I want to thank the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) for their support, and I believe attending such a competition helped me personally here in Ghana.
“The Egyptians are ahead of us because they attend more competitions than us and we hope we can get such support to return to the top of the game in Africa,” she said.
Meanwhile, the second batch of Team Nigeria’s contingent to the Games arrived in Accra, Ghana, yesterday. The first batch, which had badminton and table tennis players and their officials, had left on Monday.
Though the Games will officially begin on March 8 and run through March 23, some sporting events have already commenced. The Guardian learnt, yesterday, that the athletics team would be the last batch to leave for Ghana on March 11.
Sports Minister, John Owan Enoh, has assured Nigerians of the ministry’s readiness to compete clean at the Games and come back with a high number of laurels.
An official of the ministry told The Guardian that Enoh warned the athletes to stay away from anything that could bring embarrassment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the entire country.
Some home-based athletes are expected to be decamped by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) any time from now. Shortly after the National Trials organised by the AFN, in collaboration with Making of Champions (MOC) at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, between February 17 to 21, about 35 home-based athletes moved into camp in Abuja to continue their preparation for the Games.
Majority of the athletes gave a good account of themselves at the National Trials, posting personal best times. About 18 overseas-based stars, including World Record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan and World Silver medalist in the long jump, Ese Brume, as well as Ruth Usoro and thrower, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, are expected to team up with the squad in Accra soon.
The wrestling squad, which left their Yenagoa camp for the Games yesterday for Abuja, are expected to arrive in Accra today. The 20-man delegation, led by the president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Dr Daniel Igali, is one of the teams expected to amass medals for the country.
Speaking on the wrestling federation’s expectations at the Games, Igali said: “This is the African Games and as you know, our athletes have been in a training camp here in Yenagoa and I think the expectation we have from the athletes is for everyone to give their best efforts.
“We believe with the work we’ve done in the past few weeks, 100 per cent performance would bring good fruits to Nigeria.”
The wrestling team’s captain, Olympic silver medalist, Blessing Oborodudu, promised to make Nigeria proud with her performance.
“My expectation going for the African Games is to perform to my 100 per cent best and by the special grace of God, I will defend my title which is the gold medal,” she said.
An African Games debutant, Ashton Mutuwa (125kg) expressed confidence of giving a good account of himself despite this being his first appearance at the African Games.
The women’s wrestling team is made up of Genesis Miesinnei Mercy (50kg), Ogunsanya Christinah Tolulope (53kg), Adekuoroye Odunayo Folashade (57kg), Kolawole Esther Omolayo (62kg), Oborodudu Blessing (68kg), Reuben Hannah Amuchechi (76kg).
In the men’s freestyle team are Enozunomi Simon (57kg), Izolo Stephen Simon (65kg), Braverman Oyeinkeperemo (74kg), Onovwiomogbohwo Harrison (86kg) and Mutuwa Ashton Adeyemi-Amin(125kg).
To compete in Greco-Roman category are Nworie Emmanuel Chinonso (77kg), Ulabo Solomon (87kg), and Okuro Augustine (130kg). The accompanying officials/coaches are Akuh Purity, Burutu Happiness, Victor Kodei and Godswill Teibril.
