SPORTS: Nigerian athletes break medals record in Zambia

Team Nigeria has made a giant stride in the  city of Ndola, Zambia, venue of the ongoing 2023 African U-18 and U-20 Athletics Championships, winning  a total of 12 medals in Day 2 of the competition.

 

 

The event, which entered its second day on Sunday. saw Nigerian athletes sweeping five Gold,  three Silver and four Bronze medals to take their medal haul to seven Gold, five Silver and five Bronze.

It was the highest number of medals recorded by a particular country in a one day in the history of the championship.

 

The duo of Joma Oghenefejiro Praise and Oshiokpu Grace had grabbed two gold medals for Team Nigeria on Day one of the competition on Saturday in the U18 and U20 triple jump event. Two more medals, a silver and bronze, also came from the boys in the high jump event.

 

However, the athletes set the entire city on fire on Day two on Sunday night, capturing medals in all the events the participanted in.

 

Ogazi Samuel won gold in the 400m Boys U18, just as Okwose Faith overpowered all oppositions to win Nigeria’s forth gold of the tournament in the 100m Girls U18.

Tima Godbless did not disappoint in the 100m Women U20 event, as she silenced other competitors, while Ajayi Koyinsola

 

 

also triumph in the 100m Men U20, where he grabbed the gold medal. Opeyemi Oke also raced to a gold in the 400m U20.

Nigerian silver medalliston Day 2 of the competition were Ewa Peace
In the High Jump U18, Tiana Justina
(100m Girls U18) and Onyah Favour in the
400m Girls U18.

 

The country’s bronze medallists on Sunday night were Rukewe Godsgift (Long jump Boys U18),  Ada Bright in the 400m Girl U20, Kingsley Nnorji in the 100m Men U20 and Rejoice Sule in the 100m Women U20.

 

 

A total of 42 athletes are flying the nation’s flag at the combined fourth African U-18 Championships and the 15th African U-20 championships.

President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, who has just been elected as one of the vice presidents of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), told The Guardian on phone late on Sunday night that the seven gold medals won in just two days of the competition was a clear indication that Nigerian athletes were well prepared for the battle of Ndola.

 

“I am confident we will win more medals tomorrow (Monday), and our target is to improve on our previous outings in the competition. Team  Nigeria’s search for more medals in  the competition continues this morning in Ndola, Zambia.