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Nigerian Sport-Women Deserve Some Accolades


During the international women’s day earlier last month, women in sports and other spheres of influence were applauded for their strides and achievements. The Nigerian women were not left out, after leaving indelible marks in various sporting activities over the years. Many have proven to be worthy ambassadors for the country and brought glory, laurels, and fame to this African nation.

If you take a look at Nigeria’s participation in the Olympics, the achievement of women is highly evident through their bag of medals. The country made its debut in the Olympics in 1952, and up to the 2016 Rio Games, Nigeria had won 25 medals with athletics accounting for 13 out of the total. Women won eight out of the 13 medals gained from field and track events, while their male counterparts were responsible for only five.

At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, the quartet of Mary Onyali, Beatrice Otondu, Faith Idehen, and Opara Thompson won bronze in the women’s 4x100m. The medal was highly celebrated in the country as if it was Gold. The country is great at celebrating their medals, just as they celebrate wins from Betway after placing a wager. You click this link, https://www.betway.com.ng/ to check out the available offers.

Chioma Ajunwa made history four years later when she became the first Nigerian to win an individual medal at the Olympics. Chioma won gold in the long jump with an African Record of 7.12m, remaining the only male or female in the country to become an individual gold medalist. She also became the first African woman to bag gold in a field event in the Olympics.

During the same games, Fatima Yusuf, Olabisi Afolabi, Falilat Ogunkoya and Charity Opara took the silver medal in the 4x400m women category. Ogunkoya also claimed an individual bronze medal in the 400m, while Onyali Omagbemi took bronze in the 200m. As a result, all Nigerian medalists in the 1996 Olympics were all women.

At 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Glory Alozie rose above the trauma of losing her fiancé and won Silver in the 100m Hurdles. Glory remains the only Nigerian medalist in the Hurdles and the last athlete in Nigeria to win an individual medal on the track in the Olympic Games.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Gloria Kemasuode, Franc Idoko, Damola Osayomi, and Halimat Ismaila took the 4x100m women’s podium. Having won Bronze, the medal was later upgraded to Silver. Blessing Okagbare also won Silver in the Women’s Long Jump in the same competitions.

Blessing would achieve more fits for Nigeria during her career. She became the first athlete in Nigeria to win two medals during the same World Championship. Blessing soared a silver in the long jump and a Bronze in the 200m in the 2013 Moscow World Championship. To date, she is the only Nigerian, male or female to win two individual medals in the World Championships.

At the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, Nigerian women took six out of the nine medals secured by the country. The women claimed a total of 14 medals from a total of 24 medals won in various activities. You can also claim amazing prices at Betway by wagering on various markets.

Evidently, the Nigerian women have paid their dues in sports, though there’s still a room for improvement. Nonetheless, these women deserve some accolades for their achievements.

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