Okagbare qualifies for Tokyo Olympics, World C’ships

Published

6 years ago

May 20, 2019

Okagbare qualifies for Tokyo Olympics, World C’ships

Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare-Ighotegunor clocked a Season Best 11.07s (+0.2m/s) to finish in second position in the women’s 100m event at the Shanghai Diamond League on Saturday.

Aleia Hobbs won the race with a time of 11.03s, while double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson raced to third in 11.14 seconds.

Okagbare has now qualified for the 2019 World Championships scheduled for Doha and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games following a brilliant finish in Doha.

It was the Nigerian’s first 100m race of the season and second outing of the season after she ran to a third place finish in 23.14 seconds in the 200m in Doha on 3rd of May, 2019.

The 2008 Bronze winner in the women’s Long Jump will be making her fourth appearance at the 2020 Olympics and becomes the 6th Nigerian athlete to qualify for the 2019 World Championships in Doha.

Having secured qualification for aforementioned international competitions, Okagbare may now focus on preparing for them even as she hopes to build on her decent start to the season.

Other Nigerian athletes that have qualified are Divine Oduduru, Raymond Ekevwo, Ese Brume, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and Oluwatobiloba Amusan.

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NSF: Oparaoji, Ekpeyong, Quadri Gear Up for Tough Quarterfinal Clashes in Abeokuta

Published

2 weeks ago

May 23, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The tennis courts at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abeokuta are buzzing with intensity as the competition hits the quarterfinal stage in both the men’s and women’s singles events, following a gripping round of 16.

Men’s Singles Quarterfinals:

Abubakar Yusuf of FCT will square off against Rivers State’s Abua Canice. Yusuf booked his spot with a 4-0, 4-2 win over Ehigiamusoe Endurance of Edo, while Canice cruised past Azi David 4-1, 4-0.

Bayelsa’s Uche Oparaoji faces Adeleye Daniel of Ekiti in a clash of skill and strategy. Oparaoji outclassed Urenyang Nuhu of Taraba 4-1, 4-2, just as Adeleye powered past Kaduna’s Ibrahim Sulaiman with the same scoreline.

In one of the most anticipated ties, Danjuma Lucky (FCT) will lock horns with Bayelsa’s top seed David Ekpeyong. Danjuma came through a thrilling contest against Ekiti’s Abamu Matthew, rallying to win 1-4, 4-2, 10-5, while Ekpeyong dominated Taraba’s Rubi Toba 4-0, 4-2.

Home favourite Christopher Bulus of Ogun will battle Edo’s Michael Chima for a semifinal ticket. Bulus swept past Rivers’ Timibra Godsgift 4-1, 4-0, while Chima triumphed over Delta’s Iloputa Ikechukwu in a straight-set win.

Women’s Singles Quarterfinals:

Delta’s Barakat Quadri, fresh off a 4-1, 4-0 win over Rebecca Ekpeyong of Bayelsa, will face rising star Emmanuel Bright of the IJA (Invited Junior Athletes), who overcame Rivers’ Maxwell Timipre 4-2, 5-3.

Edo’s Omotayo Blessing will battle Akwa Ibom’s Udoffa Mary in what promises to be a fiery encounter. Omotayo brushed aside Ekiti’s Adeusi Jesutoyosi 4-0, 4-1, while Udoffa outplayed Moses Favour of Kaduna 5-3, 4-0.

Elsewhere, Ogunjobi Success of Ekiti will test her mettle against Aina Goodnews of IJA, and Akwa Ibom’s Etoro Bassey faces Ogun’s Yakubu Ohunene in a South-South vs South-West showdown.

With the quarterfinals locked in, tennis fans are in for a thrilling ride as the battle for medals intensifies under the Abeokuta sun.

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