The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Olympic Games

  • It’s a dream come true – Aruna Quadri

    It’s a dream come true – Aruna Quadri

    On the eve of his 28th birthday, Aruna Quadri gave himself a befitting gift after etching his name in the annals of Olympic Games history as the first African to play in the quarterfinal of the men’s singles of Rio Olympic Games following his 4-2 (12-10, 12-10, 11-5, 3-11, 5-11, 11-9) triumph over Germany’s Timo Boll in the fourth round match.

    Ranked 40th in the world and considered as the 27 rated player at the Olympic Games, Quadri apart from setting a new record, Quadri caused two successive upsets with the victory over the German, who was a former world number one and now ranked 13 in the world.

    Speaking after his victory over the former European champion, Quadri said: ““This is amazing, I don’t know what to say. My fans made me do this. Thank you for all the Brazilian spectators for their support. They gave me so much energy. This feels so good; it is a dream comes true that I am in the quarterfinal.”

    Amidst every doubt, Quadri rose to the occasion against Timo Boll when the Nigerian showed his class in front of the Brazilian fans with an emphatic 4-2 (12-10, 12-10, 11-5, 3-11, 5-11, 11-9) to become the first African and Blackman to make it to the last eight of the Olympic Games. The venue was animated as Brazilian fans were thrilled by the superlative performance of the Nigerian.

    However, Quadri will face the biggest task of his career when he battles world number one and world champion, China’s Ma Long in the quarterfinal match early on Wednesday August 10.

  • Rio 2016: We won’t return empty-handed from Olympic- Wrestlers

    Rio 2016: We won’t return empty-handed from Olympic- Wrestlers

    After pass through the hook to qualify for their first Olympic Games, the trio of Aminat Adeniyi, Amas Daniel and Hannah Reuben who will be competing in the wrestling event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games believe the seven-man wrestling team would return empty-handed from the South America nation.

    The wrestlers who are making their debut at the biggest sporting event in the world are full of optimism having dominated the sport in the continent at the African Games and Championships and they are eager to climb the podium in Brazil.

    After narrowly missing out from competing at the London 2012 Olympic Games, wrestler Amas Daniel cherishes his qualification while hopeful that he would make Nigeria proud in Brazil.

    “It was the disappointment of 2012 that inspired me to ensure I make it to Rio this year.

    I am not celebrat­ing yet as the bulk does not just stop at qualifying alone; the target is going to Rio and getting into the medals range. The Olympic standard is high, and I cannot promise any colour of medal as what I rely on now is my training and God but I will make sure I use my last strength in Brazil.”

    The dream of making to the Olympic Games for Hannah Reuben started in 2013 and it became a reality in Egypt this year at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. For the 22 year-old 69kg freestyle wrestler, the Olympic Games would afford her the opportunity to put her full potential to action against the world’s best.

    23 year-old Aminat Adeniyi, another freestyle wrestler who will be competing in the 58kg in Brazil, the excitement of qualifying for the Olympic Games has continued to inspire her in training. “I feel so happy qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. It has been my utmost prayer to go to the Olympic Games and whenever I see Olympians I desire to emulate them. Now I am now an Olympian and my aspiration in high for Brazil and I pray and hope that with my hardwork and God’s favour I will make it to the podium,” she said.

  • Ahead of Rio 2016 Olympic Games: Toriola gets IOC recognition

    For being the first Africa to be competing at seven Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recognized the rare feat of Nigeria’s Segun Toriola.

    Toriola who is the first African athlete to feature in seven Olympic Games will be competing in the table tennis event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil and with this development, the has lauded the most decorated table tennis player as a record breaker.

    In the article published on the IOC website on Monday, Toriola was described as a record breaking athlete, who is Africa’s most successful table tennis player of all-time.

    For appearing at every Olympic Games since his debut at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games in Spain, Toriola has been lauded for being the first athlete from the continent to be making seven appearances at the Olympic Games.

    “Seven is the number of athletes who have appeared at seven Olympic Games or more, the outright record holder being Canadian show jumper Ian Millar, who made ten appearances between Munich 1972 and London 2012. Figuring large among the group of evergreen performers with seven Games to their name is legendary sprinter Merlene Ottey, while this most select club is about to welcome a new member in Nigerian table tennis player Segun Toriola, who booked his place at Rio 2016 in February,” IOC stated.

  • Rio 2016: Athletes bank on NSC for more races

    Rio 2016: Athletes bank on NSC for more races

    National athletes that featured at the Commodore’s Boat Cruise and Race held at the Navy Sailing Club (NSC) on Saturday have called for more races as preparation for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games get underway.

    One of the athletes, Gbamire Tunde and some of his colleagues stated that with such races they would be better prepared for the task ahead.

    Buoyed by the excellent performances put up by athletes and the large turnout of members of the club for the race, the NSC’s Commodore Giwa Daramola pledged to ensure that there are many more races to keep the athletes busy as the march towards Rio 2016 continues.

    Speaking at the end of the race which was the first in the tenure of his administration, the Commodore said: “The athletes have had fun just as guests and members of the club. However, the focus for us is to ensure that we have more races to keep the athletes on their toes at all times. Water sports, comprising sailing, canoeing, rowing, kayaking and a lot more, are Nigeria’s biggest chance of winning many medals and to be counted as a strong force. Nigeria has great potential with the natural resources of water that surrounds us. We also have athletes who with better exposure will do greatly among the very best in the world.”