05:15
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Athletics Federation of Nigeria president, Chief Solomon Ogba on
Thursday in Moscow, received a medal of commendation from the IAAF
president, Lamine Diack for his outstanding contributions to athletics
in Nigeria.
One of Chief Ogba's major achievement was his tireless effort in
transforming Blessing Okagbare from an average athlete in 2007 to a
world class act. Okagbare is one of the Nigerian athletes expected to
shine at the World Championships, which begins today in Moscow, Russia.
But the big question is; can she live up to expectation and end
Nigeria's 12-year wait for a medal at the world athletics showpiece
event?
The last time Nigeria won a medal was in Seville, Spain in 1999,
where France Obikwelu and Gloria Alozie won silver in the men 200m and
women 100m hurdles events. Obikwelu and Alozie have since taken up
Portuguese and Spanish nationalities respectively due to the unfortunate
neglect of the sport by successive sports administrators, a condition
that is unchanging and it has dragged athletics in Nigeria to the
doldrums, but not for a lucky few like Okagbare whose career has been
well oiled, there would be nothing for Nigeria's athletics enthusiasts
to look forward to.
And beginning from this morning, Okagbare will be in the field
digging for gold, starting with the long jump billed for this afternoon.
She is in the same qualification pool with the very women who are
standing between her and a medal in the event. They include Olympic 2012
champion, Britney Recce of the USA, with a season best of 7.25m and
home girl, Olga Kucherenko with a season's best of 7. 00m and a personal
best of 7.13m. Okagbare, in July broke the seven meter barrier and from
the look of things, she must have to do more than the wind added 7.14m
she did recently to stand a decent chance of winning a medal in the
event, it is crowded.
On Sunday, she will run in the heats of the women's 100m and then in
the afternoon session she will do battle in the final of the women long
jump hopefully. Once the dust settles on the long jump on Sunday,
Okagbare will focus on the women's 100m and it promises to be another
explosive encounter and for Nigerians who are practically living on a
prayer, it is time to say a word or two to the mighty Man in heaven to
give Okagbare some measure of luck and stability, because this is what
it will boil down to in the women's 100m where all the top contenders,
Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, Camelita Jeter, Kelly-Ann Baptise, and Gardner
English appear to have equal chances to the medals at stake. However,
Okagbare and Fraser Pryce are the women all eyes are on.
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