The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rio 2016 Olympics

  • Tokyo 2020: IAAF releases tougher entry standard for Nigeria athletes

    The hope of Nigeria having more athletes in the track and field event at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo is now a tougher task after the IAAF approved new qualification system and entry standard for athletes that intend to participate at the world’s most glamorous multi-sports event.

    27 athletes represented Nigeria in the track and field event at the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil with no medal to show for it and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria would be looking forward to boost the country’s chances by having more athletes in Tokyo.

    However, during the first session of its two-day meeting in Doha, the IAAF Council also agreed the timetables for three 2020 World Athletics Series events – the World Indoor Championships, World Half Marathon Championships and World Race Walking Team Championships.

    “After extensive consultation with key stakeholders, the Council has decided to introduce a dual qualification system, combining both the entry standards and the new world ranking system, to determine which athletes are eligible for Olympic selection in 2020,” said the IAAF.

    The world governing body had initially intended to use the new world rankings system to qualify athletes for the World Championships in Doha but later decided to continue to use entry standards while the period of consultation for the new system was extended.

    Under the new qualification process, athletes can qualify for the 2020 Olympics by either achieving the relevant entry standard within the respective qualification period, or by virtue of their IAAF world ranking position in the selected event at the end of the respective qualification period.

    “The process is designed to achieve about 50% of the target numbers for each event through entry standards and the remaining 50% through the IAAF world ranking system,” added the IAAF.

    As a result, the entry standards are tougher in every discipline than for Rio in 2016.

    “The IAAF consulted with the Competition, Athletes’ and Coaches’ Commissions prior to this decision and will continue working with the Athletes’ Commission, the Athletes Representatives (ARs) and the Member Federations (MFs) to ensure the qualification system is well understood.

    Workshops will be scheduled with athletes, ARs and MFs during this year,” said the governing body.

    The qualification periods are from January 1, 2019, to May 31, 2020, for the marathon and 50km race walk; from January 1, 2019, to June 29, 2020, for the 10,000m, 20km race walk and combined events; and from May 1, 2019, to June 29, 2020, for all other events.

  • 2016 Olympics: Nigeria, Colombia in quarter-finals

    2016 Olympics: Nigeria, Colombia in quarter-finals

    Nigeria’s Dream Team VI still topped Group B of the Rio 2016 Olympics men’s football event in Sao Paulo in spite of a 2-0 loss to Colombia on Wednesday.

    Nigeria thus advanced to Saturday’s quarter-finals after six points from three matches, having scored six goals and conceded six, with Colombia picking the runners-up spot with five points.

    A first-half strike from captain Teofilo Gutierrez and a second-half penalty kick from Dorlan Pabon ensured the South Americans joined their West African opponents in the quarter-finals.

    Needing a win to secure their place in the last eight, it was Colombia who took an early lead through Gutierrez.

    Pabon’s fine forward ball from the left flank picked out the unmarked Sporting Lisbon striker at the top of the Nigeria penalty box.

    Gutierrez then applied a neat volleyed finish to beat goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi and give Colombia a fourth minute advantage.

    The early goal gave Colombia the confidence to attack Nigeria’s backline and create more quality chances.

    In the 19th minute, Akpeyi denied Harold Preciado’s close-range header before Pabon caused another scare for Nigeria after getting in behind the defence before shooting wide.

    The Group B winners then created chances of their own before the break, with the best of Nigeria’s opportunities coming in the 28th minute.

    This was when Oghenekaro Etebo put Sadiq Umar’s low cross wide of the far post in the Colombia penalty box.

    Etebo also tested Cristian Bonilla with a well-hit free-kick that was blocked away by the legs of the Colombia goalkeeper.

    Colombia’s determination to reach the knockout stages was reflected in their willingness to extend their lead after half-time.

    Just after the hour mark, they were rewarded with a penalty kick after Akpeyi took down Preciado in the Nigeria penalty box.

    Pabon stepped up to drive the spot kick home and double Colombia’s advantage.

    Colombia could have had a third goal in the 73rd minute but Preciado was unable to find the target from close range after controlling

    Gutierrez’s pinpoint cross from the left.

    NAN reports that Colombia will play their quarter-final clash in Sao Paulo on Saturday, while Nigeria travels to Salvador for their last eight encounter.

  • Olympics: My confidence is growing – Quadri

    Olympics: My confidence is growing – Quadri

    After his superlative performance in the third round of the men’s singles of the table tennis event at Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Aruna Quadri has admitted that the win against Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan has grown his confidence in playing the next match.

    Quadri, who earlier this year was beating black and blue by the Asian star at the German Open said he is focused on his next encounter against Germany’s Timo Boll.

    “I am growing in confidence because the last time I played Chuang Chih-Yuan was earlier this year on the ITTF World Tour in Germany, I lost in four straight games, my goal today was to improve on that performance and fight to win one game!”

    “After I won the first game I became more confident. It is so hard playing Chuang Chih-Yuan, he is so consistent, he keeps putting the ball on the table, you must try to be positive against him and put him under pressure. Also, he was clever with his services, he changes short and long. In the first game I made mistakes returning service. Today he was below his best, he did not play well,” Quadri added.

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  • 20 players for NTTF U-16 Super League

    National cadet sensation, Abayomi Animashaun will have his hands full when he compete against 19 other players across the country in the Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) U-16 Super League holding on Saturday May 14 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

    The one-day championship serves as a dress rehearsal for next week’s $46,000 prize money ITTF Premier Lotto Nigeria Open with the players aiming to have a share of the mouthwatering prize money at stake.

    As the climax of the one-week tournament which involved over 100 players across the country, the Super League will have the top 12 (boys) and eight (girls) battle it out for the mouthwatering prize money at stake.

    For the referee of the tournament, John Peters, the championship promises to be explosive as most of the players are targeting places in the national team as well as share from the prize money.

    “I will not be surprise if new players dethrone the established ones because there were surprises during the qualifiers for the Super League. Players we had expected to have easy ride were sent packing while unknown players made it to the Super League. This has surely given us the outlook of what to expect at the one-day tournament. Fans across Lagos and its environs should come around as see another Segun Toriola and Aruna Quadri emerging from the championship,” the ITTF blue badge umpire said.

    The Rio 2016 Olympics bound-official added: “I believe the Super League is a dress rehearsal for the main event next week, the ITTF Premier Lotto Nigeria Open. This will also afford the young players the opportunity to tune up for the championship and I will not be surprised if any of them causes an upset next week.”

    Meanwhile, the draws for the Super League has been released by NTTF with the 12 boys drawn into four groups with each group made up of three players while the girls were drawn into two groups of four each.

    For the boys, the top two players in each group progress to the quarterfinal stage while the top two players in the girls’ event advance to the semifinal round of the competition.