Sports

Team Nigeria Shifts Attention To Athletics, As Super Falcons, Quadri, others Exit Paris 2024 Empty Handed

Published

2 years ago

July 31, 2024

Joel Ajayi

The Super Falcons completed a hat trick of losses at the Paris 2024 Olympics after losing 3-1 to their Japanese counterpart on Wednesday to exit the game with no points.

Before Falcon’s exit , Aruna Quadri, Fatimah Bello, Olajide Omotayo, and Edem Offiong have all been eliminated from the Table Tennis event while Adam Olaore also suffered first-round elimination in the boxing event.

Also, the Nigeria’s captain and African Champion, Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori suffered a disappointing defeat in his second Group game against China’s Li Shi Feng in the Men’s Singles Badminton event at the Paris Olympics.

This loss marks Opeyori’s second defeat at Paris 2024, ending his Olympic journey in the first round.

He joins the Super Falcons, who lost 1-3 to Japan in the women’s football event earlier on Wednesday, as the 7th Nigerian athlete to be eliminated from the games

Football follows the exit route with no media to show, a path charted by Table Tennis and Boxing as none of the athletes made it past the first round.

All attention for medals will now shift to Athletics with the event starting on Thursday August 1st in Paris

A total of 35 Athletes will be competing for honours in their different track and field events.

Expectations are high with the exploits of Tobi Amusan; winning the Gold medal in the 110 meters hurdles at the last World Championship setting a world record in the event.

A podium finish is at least expected as Tobi Amusan is a hot prospect for the gold medal.

Ese Brumen is another athlete’s Nigerians will be backing her for a podium finish in the long jump, the event that gave Nigeria her first ever Gold medal at the Olympics courtesy of the Chioma Ajunwa effort at the Atlanta 96 Olympics.

Other events could spring surprises while Nigerians are anxious to see how the relays will go, though watchers are optimistic that Nigeria could win a medal in the relays.

Recall the 4×4 Relay gave Nigeria the second ever Gold medal in Athletics at the Sydney 2000 in which the American team were stripped off the gold for doping.

How many medals will Athletics return for Team Nigeria, the coming days will provide a definite answer

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Sports

Gang James Makes History Despite Second-Place Finish in Abuja Half Marathon

Published

3 mins ago

November 15, 2026

The Gleamer

Cyril Ogar

Ethiopia’s Gemechu Tolosa Daba on Saturday emerged winner of the men’s elite race at the third edition of the PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon, finishing ahead of Nigeria’s Gang James, who set a new national record.

Tolosa crossed the finish line in an impressive time of 1:01:56 to claim the top prize of $8,000 in the 21km race, while Nigeria’s James finished second in 1:01:58, setting a new Nigerian national record.

James also emerged as the best Nigerian runner, earning $6,000 for his second-place finish in the international category, alongside ₦1.5 million as the winner of the local runners’ category.

Kenya’s Lampard Kingoo finished third in 1:01:59, while compatriot Enos Kipruto came fourth in 1:02:06. Uganda’s Julius Ochieng completed the top five with a time of 1:02:27.

The race, which attracted more than 5,000 participants, started opposite the Federal Fire Service on Mohammed Buhari Way and ended at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Speaking after the race, James expressed delight at setting a new national record in front of his home crowd, describing the achievement as a reward for his hard work and dedication.

“I am very happy to break the National Record. I worked so hard for this moment, and to do it here in Abuja, in front of my people, makes it even more special,” he said.

He added that competing against some of Africa’s finest long-distance runners inspired him to deliver his best performance.

“Running against Gemechu and the Kenyans pushed me to give my best. I knew I had to stay with them till the end. This record is just the beginning for me,” James said.

The third edition of the competition attracted elite athletes from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, among other countries, with about 50 international elite runners participating.

The event, sponsored by PremiumTrust Bank and organised by Nilayo Sports Management, recorded increased international participation compared with previous editions.

The competition offered prizes ranging from $8,000 to $500 for international participants, while Nigerian athletes received cash rewards ranging from ₦50,000 to ₦2 million.

The successful outing further highlighted Abuja’s growing potential as a destination for international road-running competitions, while providing Nigerian athletes with an opportunity to compete against some of the continent’s best long-distance runners.

The colourful event also featured musical performances by Nigerian artistes, entertaining athletes, guests and spectators before, during and after the presentation of prizes to the winners.

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