Team Nigeria had a rather lackluster performance that led to a medal-less Day 7 in the ongoing 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
In Athletics, fans had their hopes dashed when Yinka Ajayi, who is the sole Nigerian competitor in the women’s 400m failed to prove a point in the Heat as she settled for 8th with a time of 52.26s while Botswana’s Amantle Montsho raced to Gold in a Season’s Best (SB) of 50.15s.
In the women’s 200m semi-finals, the fates of Nigerian duo Praise Idamadudu and Isoken Igbinosun were not so different from Ajayi’s, as both athletes were unable to pull any measure weight in their Heats. Idamadudu reached the finish line within 23.69s while Igbinosun made a time of 24.03s, however both athletes came in 7th.
It was all 7’s and 8’s for Nigerian athletes as Emmanuel Arowolo, Nigeria’s sole competitor in the half-lap event finished in 21.25s to place 8th.
In Field, Long Jumper Precious Okoronkwo finished in 14th position in the Long Jump Qualifying Round B after making a jump of 6.12m.
National Record (NR) holder in the women’s Javelin throw, Kelechi Nwanga finished in 6th position in the final of the women’s javelin.
Nigeria’s first ever female gymnast at the Commonwealth Games, Jade Faulkner threw a great performance competing in the Teams Final and Individual Qualification Sub Division 1 – Rotation 3, but it was only enough to put her in 10th position with a score of 6.00 points in Ribbon and 9.80 points in Hoop. In orations she amassed a total of 33.800 points after making four rotations.
In the Women’s boxing event, Nigerian boxer Yetude Odunuga dominated Caroline Veyre 3-2 by decision in the Women’s 60kg Quarterfinal 3. Ayisat Oriyomi on the other hand was not so lucky as she lost to Northern Ireland’s female boxer McNaul.
The Nigerian table tennis team continued their dominance in the men’s Table Tennis event. Nigeria’s topgun in the game, Aruna Quadri teamed up with Segun Toriola in the men’s doubles Round of 32 as they breezed past Jamaica’s Tomilson Simon and Watson Kane 3-0 (11-3, 11-6, 11-6).
Bode Abiodun and Olajide Omotayo showed pure dominance in their game against the Paskistan team 3-0 (11-1, 11-3, 11-4). In the singles event, however Abiodun was not so prepared as England’s Liam Pitchford defeated him 4-1.
Nigeria’s number 1, Aruna Quadri kept his lights on as he successfully brushed past Mauritian Brian Yook Fo 4-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-4, 12-10). To progress into the Round of 6 of the event. Segun Toriola was not left out of the action, as he also qualified for the Round of 16.
In Para-Table Tennis, Temitope Ogunsaya wasn’t as lucky as his compatriot in the female category Faith Obazuaye who won India’s Vaisnavi Star -3-0. Temitope was beaten 3-0 by host country’s man Barak Mizrachi.
