2014 C’wealth: Team Nigeria guns for gold in Glasgow

Dr. Tammy Danagogo
Dr. Tammy Danagogo
By Gbenga Jolaosho
Abuja

Team Nigeria will be hoping to better their 2010 records in this year’s Commonwealth Games which begins today in Glasgow, Scotland.
The country finished on glorious note at the last edition held in New Delhi, India, returning home with a total of 11 gold, eight silver and 14 bronze medals to place 13th on the final medals’ table.
In this year’s edition a Nigeria is featuring 127 athletes (65 male and 62 female) and they will compete in seven sports which include athletics, boxing, shooting, wrestling, weightlifting, table tennis and para-sports.

The list is made up of 46 track and field athletes; 16 weightlifters; 15 shooters; 14 wrestlers; 11 boxers; 10 table tennis players, nine para-athletes and six para-powerlifters.
However, despite the fact that adequate preparations were not made for the sports fiesta, the National Sports Commission (NSC) still believes that the country would put up a good performance, with its sight on winning at least 12 gold medals.
Bolaji Ojo-Oba, a director in the Sport Ministry insisted that the athletes had been given the necessary support and that they have no choice than surpass their 2010 records.
“Our aim is to support the government’s efforts by ensuring that the athletes do well,” Ojo-Oba began.

“We have set a target of better performance in Glasgow, Scotland, and anything less than our achievement in India would amount to a failure, as we are expected to do better at each of the Games, because the country is blessed with an abundance of talents that are waiting to be discovered and nurtured to stardom.” he said.
However, the events in which Nigeria is hoping to rake much of her expected medals include table tennis, athletics and weightlifting.

The table tennis team will rely on experienced players in 2002 and 2006 gold medallist, Segun Toriola and Funke Oshonaike, to propel the likes of Ganiyat Ogundele, Rashidat Ogundele, Ojo Onaolapo, Edem Offiong and Cecilia Otu-Akpan who are not new to the Commonwealth Games to win medals.

The athletics team will also parade Alex Al-Ameen born in Britain and Mark Jelks born in the United States aside the brilliance of Blessing Okagbare who is set to grab her first medal in the Commonwealth Games.
Nigeria is also boasting of New Delhi 2010 defending champions in Yakubu Adesokan, who is also a world record holder in powerlifting, triple jump winner, Tosin Oke, Sinivie Boltic, Blessing Oborududu, Esther Oyema who won the London 2012 paralympics gold and a host of others who can weather the storm in Glasgow.