Category: Sports

Flowerbud News

Team Nigeria on Saturday in Paris at the 2024 Paralympic Games added a silver medal to its haul, after Flora Ugwunwa won in the women’s javelin throw event.

Ugwunwa, who competed in the women’s F54 category of the athletics event, achieved a throw of 19.26 metres to finish second in the competition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this winning throw was her second in the competition’s final, with her first being 18.00m.

Her third was 18.24m, with the fourth, fifth and sixth being 18.68m, 18.40m and 17.50m respectively.

Uzbekistan’s Nurkhon Kurbanova won the event’s gold medal with a world record-setting throw of 21.12m as her best in the mandatory six throws.

Kurbanova, who had earlier won the bronze medal in women’s shot put F54, never gave her competitors a chance.

She had throws of 20.07, 21.02, 20.27, 21.02 and 20.98 in her first, second, third, fourth and sixth throws respectively, with the world record-setting 21.12 in the fifth throw.

NAN reports that Ugwunwa’s win has now made it one gold, two silver and two bronze medals so far to place Team Nigeria in the 52nd position at the Games.

The Games comes to an end on Sunday.

NAN

Flowerbud News

Team Nigeria on Wednesday won its second medal in powerlifting events at the ongoing Paralympic Games in Paris.

Esther Nworgu won silver medal in the women 41kg category.

Eniola Bolaji had earlier won bronze medal in badminton events.

Nworgu was narrowly beaten by China’s Zhe Cui, who lifted 119kg to set a new Paralympic Games record, taking the gold.

Nworgu lifted an impressive 118kg to secure the silver medal.

The Chinese had won silver medal at the previous Olympic.

Nworgu started the competition with an impressive lift of 106kg, placing her second behind Cui, who started with 108kg in her second lift.

Nworgu lifted 112kg, while Cui extended her lead with a 113kg lift.

In the final round, Nworgu achieved her best lift of 118kg, securing her second place finish.

Brazil’s Lara de Lima lifted 109kg to take the bronze.

NAN

At the end of day 14 at #Paris2024, here’s how the medal table looks on the African continent

Sports minister decries Nigeria’s poor performance at Paris Olympics

By Olayinka Owolewa

The Minster of Sports, Sen. John Enoh, has decried Nigeria’s disappointing performance at the ongoing Paris Olympics, stressing the need for repositioning of the sport sector for better performance in future events.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Enoh said this on Friday in Paris, while briefing Nigerian journalists at the event.

He said the nation should learn from the Paris experience and plan better by giving the sector priority attention.

The minister also identified the deteriorating level of infrastructure and poor funding of sports in the country as challenges facing the ministry.

“How much this challenges us, for me, I wish I was speaking with you with records of results and outcomes that are better.

“Let us turn what has happened to positive for Nigerian sports, there are lots of takeaways even though we didn’t get the medals.

“The basketball team achieved what has never been achieved before, in long jump, we may not have won any medal, but we had three Nigerians taking part in the finals.”

The minister expressed worries with the commitment and the patriotism of some of the athletes at the event.

He pointed out that in preparing for the competition, many variables responsible for impressive performance at the Olympics were not followed.

“Olympics requires many variables, talking about the training and preparation, how much of it took place.

“The commitment of the athletes and their level of patrotism, I’m by no means trying to drag any of the athletes, as young men and women, they have done well for their country.

“I remain proud of our athletes despite the outcome of the Olympics, it is not easy. In the word of people in those days, the fun is not in winning but in participation.”

NAN recalls that Nigeria had yet to win a medal as at the time of filing this report even though it was competing in12 events with 88 athletes. C(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Flowerbud News

In the history of Nigerian sports, no wrestler has ever won more accolades than Blessing Oborududu.

For over a decade, she has made Nigeria proud at international competitions.

Oborududu’s remarkable achievements include winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Games, making her the best female wrestler from Africa. She has also won 12 African championships.

She is also a 2-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and one-time bronze medalist.

Oborududu made history at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as she became the first Nigerian wrestler to win a medal at the Olympics,  taking home silver in the 68 kilogram category.

This is not only a moment of joy for Nigerians but it also awakened new generation wrestlers.

Oborududu’s fame spread beyond the African continent where she has won gold medals in Islamic Solidarity Games and Yasar Dogu Tournament, Turkey,  making her a global wrestling powerhouse.

On account of her achievements, Oborududu was selected to be Nigeria’s flag bearer during international tournaments that include Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.

She has shown love and commitment toward her country through sports, thereby becoming one of Nigeria’s  loved sport ambassadors.

Her legacy extended beyond simply winning medals.  She has helped  popularise wrestling in Nigeria, and also improved its overall participation by influencing a new generation of athletes from her successful career.

Blessing Oborududu’s achievements are a testimony to her hard work, persistence and dedication.

She is an epitome of success that could be accomplished through doggedness and enthusiasm, thus motivating wrestlers and all Nigerians to strive for the best.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Oborududu defeated her Canadian opponent, Linda Morais with a convincing 8-2 victory in the preliminary stage, and later quarter-final match.  She put Larroque Koumba of France to the sword 6-2 to set a semi-final bout with Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan.

She eventually lost to Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan, 1-3 in the semi-final and later to her Japanese counterpart, Nonoka Ozaki 3-0 in the bronze medal match.

The President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) and Olympic gold medalist, Daniel Igali, commended the world number 6, despite her loss at the bronze medal bout to her Japanese counterpart, Ozaki on Tuesday.

in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Tuesday in Paris, Igali said that the federation had a lot of work to do to replace her.

“She did her best. She has really represented Nigeria very well as an exemplary athlete.

“Four Olympic appearances. Olympic silver medallist. 14-time African champion, three-time-African games champion, two-time commonwealth games champion.

“We have quite a lot of work to do to replace her. I doff my hat for Blessing Oborududu,” Igali said.

The Secretary-General of the federation, Haruna Maigidansanma, described Oborududu as a huge talent that has brought glory to Nigeria through wrestling.

“Oborududu is a top professional, and we are very proud of her at the federation. I hope she will agree to mentor interested Nigerians on the mat.

“She has etched her name in the annals of Nigerian sports history, becoming the country’s most decorated wrestler.

“With a career spanning not less than a decade, she has consistently made Nigeria proud on the global stage,” Maigidansama said.

NAN

Flowerbud News

World record holder Oluwatobiloba Amusan on Wednesday in Paris qualified for the semi-finals of the women’s 100 metres event at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Amusan recorded a time of 12.49 seconds to win her heat, ahead of Alaysha Johnson of the U.S who had a time of 12.61 secs.

Janeek Brown of Jamaica, with a time of 12.84, also qualified in third place from the heat at the Stade de France.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trio and 12 others, including Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico, advanced to Friday’s semi-finals.

They are to be joined by the next three fastest runners from the five heats, as well as those who will qualify from the repechage round by midday Thursday.

Races in the repechage round will take place on Thursday morning, with 21 runners fighting for three semi-final slots.

NAN reports that the event’s final will take on Saturday.

NAN

Paris 2024: Oborodudu beats French opponent for place in semi-final

By Olayinka Owolewa

Paris, Aug. 5,2024 (NAN)Blessing Oborodudu, Team Nigeria’s Wrestling captain to the 2024 Paris Olympics, has booked a place in the Semi Final match of the 68kg category.

Oborodudu took to the mat to defeat Larroque Koumba of France 6-2 to continue her good start to the Olympics.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian captain had earlier in the day defeated her Canadian opponent, Linda Morais 8-2.

Oborodudu will now face Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kazakhstan.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Flowerbud News

For the first time in Summer Games history, the opening ceremony was not held in a stadium.

Nigeria, in her colourful well styled green and white dresses, rode on a boat with Amusan hoisting the flag and supported by Opeyori, alongside the delegation as they sailed across.

Meanwhile, a total of 88 Team Nigeria athletes, comprising 63 women and 25 men, will compete in 12 sports at the Paris Olympics.