Nigeria’s performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics so far is yet to produce any medal, prolonging the wait by Nigerians to see one of their countrymen make it to the podium for the global applause.
But amid the tongue-lashing against the athletes and sports administrators in the country, Mr Daniel Igali, 2000 Olympic gold medalist has called for patience as the Olympic games are still in early-stage.
The following is Nigeria’s standing at the summer games so far:
TABLE TENNIS
Nigeria’s first cheerful news came from Calabar born Offiong Edem when she defeated Hungarian Dora Madarsz 4-1 (11-8,11-9,11-9,9-11,11-4) in Round One of the Women’s Singles. But the good news was short-lived as the four-time olympian crashed out of the competition after a second-round loss 1-4 to American Lily Zhang.
2019 Africa Games Table Tennis champion, Olajide Omotayo lost 4-0 to Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia in straight games in Round One of the Men’s Singles.
Seven-time Olympian Funke Oshoniake was the first athlete from Team Nigeria in action but lost 4-1 in her preliminary round match to USA’s Juan Liu in the Women’s Table Tennis Singles.
Tuesday 27th july 2021, Aruna Quadri dream of winning 2020 Tokyo Olympic medal was crashed by Brasilian TSUBOI Gustavo in Round 3.
In 2017, he became the first African player to compete in the European Champions League when he suited up for Sporting Lisbon. In the same year, he also became the first Nigerian to win a title at a Challenge Series event when he claimed the singles title at the 2017 Polish Open in Czestochowa.
BADMINTON
The Nigerian badminton men’s representatives, Godwin Olofua and Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori competed in the Group Play stage of the Men’s Doubles, losing 2-0 (21-2, 21-7) to Japan’s Hiroyuki Endo and Yuta Watanabe.
TAEKWONDO
Elizabeth Anyanacho, lost in the Women’s under-67kg category in the Round of 16. She lost 12-7 to Turkish fighter Nur Tatar on Sunday.
CANOEING
Nigerian athlete competed in the sprint event of Canoeing Sprint. Esther Toko rowed in the Heat 2 of the repechage stage of the women’s sculls and posted a time of 8.58.49s on Friday, July 23.
The fourth-place finish was not enough to progress to the quarter-finals, but she had a chance to compete in the Semifinal E/F where she came third in Heat 1 Singles Sculls Semis E/F, earning a spot in the E final where she is not in a position to challenge for a medal.
The 21-year-old athlete from Ondo State clocked a time of 9:07.70 to qualify for the Final E.
BASKETBALL
Nigeria men’s senior basketball team D’Tigers lost their opening games at the Tokyo Olympics 84-67 to Australia.
D’Tigers lost the game due to failure from the free throw lines, and lack of three-point shooting was also a glaring weakness.
Nigeria female basketball team wrestled with USA early Tuesday in Group B preliminary match. Though the team put up a spirited fight, USA won by 9 points at 81-72.
GYMNASTICS
Nigeria’s pioneer Olympic gymnast Uche Eke made a bold attempt in the Men’s All-Around and finished 36th.
