Blessing Okagbare’s heart-warming performance at the IAAF Diamond League in Shangai, China on Sunday has been described as a good omen for Team Nigeria as the zero hour approaches swiftly for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Okagbare, the reigning African Champion and World silver medalist sparkled yet again in China in the Women’s Long Jump and 200m to heighten hopes of a good outing for Team Nigeria in Glasgow to knock off the ugly outing of Team Nigeria at the London 2012 Olympic Games where Nigeria did not win any medal.
Leading the cheer group for Okagbare and Team Nigeria is President of Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, Engr Sani M. Ndanusa who hailed Okagbare as a true blessing for Nigeria.
‘’I could not hold back tears of joy when I watched her on TV soaring higher in the Long Jump and moments later she brought her grace and elegance to bear in the tracks’’.
She was a beauty to behold and indeed her commanding performances are worthy of celebrating. It is more so knowing that the Commonwealth Games is knocking on our doors. It is an indication of good tidings for Team Nigeria as we prepare for Glasgow 2014′’, Ndanusa who also is the President of Nigeria Tennis Federation said.
Okagbare took the Long Jump with a leap of 6.86m (+0.1) in round 1 ahead of national record-breaking Ivana Spanovic of Serbia (6.85m, +0.3) to move second on the 2014 world list.
Two hours later Okagbare, who skipped her last three jump attempts to rest, made it two from two at the 2014 IAAF Diamond League in Shanghai with another meet record of 22.36 seconds in the women’s 200m, just five hundredths outside her personal best.
‘’I also salute the Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmauel Uduaghan for investing on Okagbare. ‘’As Nigerians celebrate Okagbare, we at the Olympic family also celebrate Governor Uduaghan for his tireless efforts in encouraging our sports men and women’’, Ndanusa emphasised.
