The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Okagbare

  • Okowa, Falilat, Okagbare, Ikhuoria sparkle at NOC Awards

    Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa,  Sir Awoture Eleyae, Chief Falilat Ogunkoya-Omotayo, Blessing Okagbare-Igoteguonor, Sir Isaac Ikhuoria were among the Stars honoured by the Nigeria Olympic Committee at the weekend with the NOC Merit Award at the Events Centre, Asaba.

    It was a night of glamour laced with comedy, musical entertainment, coupled with high profile dignitaries from all over the world who appreciated the winners for their outstanding performances that raised Nigeria’s flag to flutter at World meets.

    Other winners of the glorious night included Sir Adetokunbo Ademola (posthumous), Late Babayo Shehu, Ruth Ogbeifo-Balogun, Mariam Usman, Lucy Ejike, Adeoye Ajibola (late), and Monday Emoghavwe.

    And a glittering array of stars from the sports galaxy in Africa descended on the Palatial Events Centre, Asaba to honour those whom the cap fits for meritorious services to humanity.

    They included former CAF President Issa Hayatou, Sports Minister Barrister Solomon Dalung who was represented by his Permanent Secretary, Adesola Olusade, NOC President Engr Habu Gumel(host), CAA Officials attending the Africa Athletics fiesta in Asaba, NFF President Amaju Pinnick and the Governor of Delta State with his retinue of officials among others.

    NOC President Engr Gumel emphasised that the NOC Merit Award was living up to its name of MERIT as all the winners merited deserving accolades for their exemplary leadership in their various fields of endeavour.

    Delta State Governor Dr Okowa who received an award for good governance and turning Delta State to a Mecca of Sports, praised the NOC for its transparency that included recognition to Paralympic athletes. He said that Delta was still in the vanguard of Sports development and giving youths more opportunity to excel in sports.

    With all federation Presidents present at the Awards, NOC Scribe Hon Tunde Popoola could not but describe it as the best Awards “I’ve seen in recent times”.

  • Injury rules Okagbare out of 100m, 200m races

    It’s no longer news that Nigeria’s female Blessing Okagbare will not be defending the 100m and 200m races she won at the 21st Commonwealth Games, which starts tomorrow in Gold Coast, Australia.

    Okagbare, who last week broke Mary Onyali’s 200m record pulled out of the 100m and 200m events of the Commonwealth Games and opted to compete for Nigeria in only the relay race.

    Former Olympic gold medallist, Enefiok Udo Bong, revealed yesterday that real reason Okagbare decided to take part in just one event was because she had been nursing an injury for three years.

    NationSport also gathered that in spite of Okagbare’s pleas to government to come to her aid in terms of securing needed funds to treat her injury, nothing was done to support her.

    Okagbare was said to have paid 19000USD to a Swedish doctor to treat her and even lost some of her Nike endorsement in the process.

    Udo Obong disclosed that as far as Okagbare was concerned, personal preservation takes precedent over national interest because of what she had gone through.

    However, NationSport could not independently verify if Okagbare sustained the injury while competing for Nigeria.

  • Nigeria names Okagbare, 12 others for IAAF World Relays

    The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has released a provisional list of 13 female athletes to represent the country at the International Association of Athletics Federations World Relays.

    The competition is scheduled to hold between Saturday and Sunday in Nassau, Bahamas.

    Those picked for the 4×100 metres are Blessing Okagbare, Dominique Duncan, Jennifer Madu, Mercy Ntia-Obong, Peace Uko and Stephanie Kalu.

    Patience Okon-George and Praise Idamadudu are to join Okagbare, Duncan, Madu and Ntia-Obong for the 4x200m.

    Okon-George will also compete in the 4x400m alongside Folashade Abugan, Jennifer Edobi, Margaret Bamgbose, Omolara Omotosho and Ugonna Ndu.

    At the 2015 edition Nigeria’s 4x200m women’s squad which comprised Okagbare, Duncan, Regina George and Christy Udoh won a gold medal.

    Based on the preliminary entry figures, more than 700 athletes from 42 countries have expressed interest in competing.

    This was unlike in the inaugural event in 2014 which had 576 athletes, and the 2015 edition which had 669 athletes.

    The 2017 programme will consist of five events over four relay disciplines.

    These are the 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m and 4x800m for both men and women, and a mixed 4x400m which will cap the competition’s second day.

    The top eight finishers in the 4x100m and 4x400m for both men and women will earn automatic entry for the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London.

    (NAN)

  • 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES FALLOUT: IOC elevates Okagbare to silver

    2008 OLYMPIC GAMES FALLOUT: IOC elevates Okagbare to silver

    Nigeria’s queen of the tracks in women athletics Blessing Okagbare will soon be decorated with a silver medal by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following the discovery that Russia’s Tatyana Lebedeva tested positive to drug test duirng the women’s long jump event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

    Okagbare won a bronze medal in the event for Nigeria. Consequently, Team Nigeria’s medals’ haul at the 2008 Olympic Games is now three silver medals (U-23 Eagles, women’s 4 x100 metres relay team and the women’s long jump and Chika chukwumerije’s bronze medal in taekwondo.

    IOC’s website on Wednesday indicated that an intelligence-gathering process that started in August 2015 to curb drug cheats indicted Lebedeva (who also won silver in the women’s triple jump event in Beijing Olympics) alongside Jamaica’s Nesta Carter (gold medal winner in the men’s 4×100 metres relay) were both stripped of their respective medals.

    According to the IOC, Lebedeva was found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008.

    The IOC has also requested the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to modify the results of the above-mentioned events accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.

    Consequently, Maurren Maggi of Brazil retains her gold medal, Nigeria’s Okagbare will be elevated to the silver medal while Jamaica’s Chelsea Hammond joins the list of Olympic Games medallists by taking the bronze medal, having finished fourth when the eevnt was done in 2008.

  • All-Nigeria Championships: Okagbare wins Seventh title

    All-Nigeria Championships: Okagbare wins Seventh title

    Blessing Okagbare was again at her best as she claimed her 7th All Nigeria 100m title with a time of 11.02 secs (her season’s best) at the ongoing All-Nigeria Championships in Sapele, Delta State.

    Okagbare, who was missing at last year’s event, left no one in doubt that she was back to fight for her title from last year’s winner, Gloria Asumnu when she easily won her semi final race with a time of 11.22secs.  “I am focused on myself, I am not thinking of what others doing,” Okagbare stated.

    Peace Ukoh finished second in 11.37sec, while Gloria Asumnu placed third 11.38secs in the women’s 100m race.

    Another big performer was Antwon Hicks who set a new national record (subject to ratification by the AFN) in the 110m Men’s Hurdles event.

    Hicks’ winning time of 13.27 secs supersedes the previous record in the 110m hurdles held by Williams Erese who set a time 13.42secs in the United States in 2003.

    The winning time has also qualified the former American runner for the Rio Olympics where he will be donning the colours of Nigeria

    Speaking with journalists after his race, Hicks said he felt very relieved to now have the Olympic standard after a couple of unsuccessful attempts.

    “All year, I have been beating it (the standard) but it didn’t count because the results have been windy, this was one of my last races to get it done and I am happy I have done just that and also set a new national record. I am pretty sure this time will be among the top 20 times in the world at the moment”

    Today, a keen contest is also expected in male’s race, where Divine Oduduru and Egwero Ogho-Oghene already whet the appetite of fans with their 10.23 wining times in their respective heats oyesterday.Defending champion Seyi ogunelwe also won his heat but with a slower time of 10.25secs.

  • 2015 World Athletics Championships: Okagbare, Oghene Egwero to lead Nigeria contingent

    2015 World Athletics Championships: Okagbare, Oghene Egwero to lead Nigeria contingent

    The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has unveiled 23 athletes for the 2015 World Athletics Championships slated for August 22 to 30 in Beijing, China. Top on the list is the Commonwealth Gold medalist, Blessing Okagbare who is the country’s  brightest medal hopeful at the championships.

    The country’s fastest male athlete, Ogho-Oghene Egwero will be the only male athlete to represent the country in the men’s 100m race in Beijing while Tosin Oke is expected to showcase his talents in the triple jump.

    In the same vein, Gloria Asumnu, Stephanie Kalu, Deborah Odeyemi, Cecilia Francis and Ngozi Onwumere will fly the country’s flag in the women’s  200m and 4X100m respectively.

    Others earmarked for the women’s 400m and 4X400m races are Patience Okon, Regina George, Oluwatosin Adeloye, Etim Margaret, Funke Oladoye and Rita Ossai.

    In high jump, 27-year old, Doreen Amata hopes to re-enact her recent excellent performances of late at the world championships. Amata is coming back to the field after having her first baby.

    The new kid on the bloc Ese Brume should continue her successful run in the long jump as she represents the country in Beijing.

    Chinwe Okoro(Heptathlon), Uhunoma Naomi ,Tega Peter(110m), Tyron Akins,Ukaoma Miles(Triple Jump) also made the IAAF standard which qualifies them to represent the country at the World Athletics Championships.

    Meanwhile, the President of the AFN, Solomon Ogba alongside nine other officials will also be in Beijing to boost the morale of the athletes to victory.

  • We don’t have Okagbare’s apology letter – AFN

    We don’t have Okagbare’s apology letter – AFN

    The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has refuted claims that the body has received an apology letter  from Nigeria’s fastest woman and Commonwealth gold medalist, Blessing Okagbare following  uterances made by her that the body was irresponsible.

    In a chat with the NationSports, the spokesman of AFN, Kayode Thomas, said: “We are yet to receive an official letter from Okagbare.”

    It would be recalled that some days ago, Okagbare had claimed on her faceboomk page that the Solomon Ogba led body had preferred foreign based athletes to the detriment of the home-based athletes.

    She had posted: “For those hoping for a change in our Nigeria track & field, they should not just wait but also pray. Honestly, I have been so calm about these people killing our grass root section/home based athletes with their recruiting of athletes from other countries instead of building the great talents that we have.

    “What a show of shame the administration have become. They sit down, criticize the athletes back home that they are not improving or doing enough to be at the top yet; they don’t do anything to support them. Enough is enough with the short cuts to success because, our Nation and athletes are so better than this.”

  • Okagbare shines in Jamaica

    Okagbare shines in Jamaica

    NIGERIA’S Blessing Okagbare progressed with her winning streak at the 12th stage of the Jamaica International Invitational (JII) Track and Field Meet when she claimed a silver medal in a time of 11.05secs in the women’s 100m race. Elaine Thompson,however, continued her sterling performance as she ran a time of 10.97 to clinch the gold medal just as Olympic 200m champion Allyson Felix of the USA finished third.

    Just recently,the Commonwealth Queen had helped Nigeria win a gold medal in the 4X200m event and also secured qualification for the 4x100m event in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

    However,unlike their female counterparts, the fortunes of the Nigerian male athletes have continued to dwindle as they have not been able to stage a major comeback to athletics since the days of Olusoji  Fasuba who is still the African record holder in the men’s 100m .

    Meanwhile,in JII track and field meet, Jamaica’s Asafa Powell ran 9.84 to win the men’s 100m,while Ryan Bailey of the United States finished second in a time of 9.93 ahead of Jamaica’s Nesta Carter,who finished in a time of 9.98.

  • Okagbare, others clinch gold

    Okagbare, others clinch gold

    Team Nigeria claimed gold medal in a World Lead time in a dramatic Women’s 4x200m race at the IAAF World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas on Sunday morning.

    The quartet of Dominique Duncan, Regina George, Christiana Udoh and Blessing Okagbare emerged victorious in 1:30.52secs (WL) in a race that saw both host nation, Bahamas, and 2014 winners, United States of America (USA) disqualified.

    World bronze medallist Okagbare set off the team’s pace and then passed the baton to George,Duncan and Christy.

    Jamaica- featuring the likes of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sherone Simpson and Veronica Campbell-Brown- claimed runners-up berth in 1:31.73secs, while Germany were promoted from fourth to third with a time of 1:33.61secs, after the Bahamas- originally second- were disqualified for rule infringement. China finished in an Asian Record time and the Republic of Ireland clocked a National Record.

    The inclusion of reigning Commonwealth 100m and 200m sprint champion Okagbare was always going to serve as a threat for the highly rated American and Jamaican lineup, but with France failing at the first exchange and the Bahamians passing the baton outside the takeover zone at the second; it was all Team Nigeria’s race to lose.

    The last piece of the drama culminated with a slip up in the last exchange involving Tarmoh and Olympic 200m champion Allyson Felix. The latter most successful athlete in the relay floundered in her attempt to get a solid grip on the baton as Tarmoh then bumped into her before She fell to the ground.

    Nigeria Better Their 4x200m Women’s Relay National Record in Nassau. Bahamas to Clinch Gold at the IAAF World Relays. Image: IAAF Twitter.

    Nigeria Better Their 4x200m Women’s Relay National Record in Nassau. Bahamas to Clinch Gold at the IAAF World Relays. Image: IAAF Twitter.

    Meanwhile,Nigeria failed to advance into the medal final of the women’s 4x400m after finishing with the tenth best time (3:32.16), fourth in Heat 1 behind Australia,France and Cuba in the Women’s 4x400m.

    The team which includes Tosin Adeloye, Margaret Bamgbose, Regina George, Dominique Duncan, Ibukun Blessing Mayungbe, Rita Ossai and Florence Uwakwe will compete in the Final B event on Sunday.

    Team Nigeria men’s struggle continues

    Nigeria did not start in the Men’s 4x100m race, which was won by the USA in a  record 37.38secs, ahead of Jamaica- with Usain Bolt in the fold- (37.68) and Japan (38.20).

    The Nigerian men also put up a lackluster performance in the 4x400m race as they clocked 3:06.92secs to finish in 18th position without a chance of participating in the classification final today.

    The IAAF World Relays return today  with the Women’s 4x400m and 4x100m showcasing Nigerian interests, as well as the Men’s 4x200m heats.

  • Brume eyes Okagbare’s record

    • As AFN uses Olukoya Champ for selection

    Commonwealth Gold medalist, Ese Brume was the cynosure of all eyes at the 5th D.K Olukoya Youth and Junior Athletics Championships which was concluded on Saturday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium,Lagos. Brume, who ran one of the best times in the women’s 100m, 200m races rounded up with a sterling performance in the jumps.

    In a chat with SportingLife on Saturday, Brumeh claimed she was looking forward to perfecting her skills in the women’s  100m race as she wishes to surpass the feat of the fastest woman in Africa and Commonwealth gold medalist, Blessing  Okagbare.

    “I am sure I can fill in her(Okagbare) shoes with time. I came for the Olukoya Youth Championship in order to work on my  time ahead of the Youth World Athletics Championships slated for this year in Mauritus,” she said.

    In the same vein, Divine Oduduru also outclassed his contemporaries in the men’s 100m race. Oduduru, who is presently under Coach Daniel  Etsebiminor told SportingLife he was ready to soar.

    He said: We have had a rigorous training under Coach Daniel. Okagbare has been of tremendous help as she also trains with us anytime she is in Sapele, Delta State. This has encouraged us and I feel I can end the drought in the men’s 100m category with time.”

    Meanwhile, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has put all logistics in place to camp successful athletes that took  part in the fifth edition of the Dr. D. K. Olukoya Youth and Junior Athletics Championships  at the IAAF recognised High performance Training Centre (HPC) at the University of Port-Harcourt.

    According to the Technical Director of AFN, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama: “We are preparing for the African Youth Championships and African Junior Championships. We also have the World Youth Championship, so we are using this particular championship which is very crucial for our trials for the youth and junior athletes at the same time so it is very serious.

    Immediately after this, the athletes selected will go into camp in preparation for the African Youth  Championship (AYC).

    Again, it is significant because most of the youth athletes are also qualified for Juniors. You can see a situation that the same crop of athletes qualify for the junior and youth championship.”