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  As preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics hits top gear, legendary Nigerian table tennis star, Aruna Quadri, has been chosen to lead Team Nigeria at the biggest global sporting event.
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Aruna’s selection to lead Nigeria was confirmed during a National Sports Federation meeting in Abuja on Monday, June 28th, 2021. At the Rio 2016 Olympics, Aruna made history after becoming the first African table tennis player to reach the quarter-finals of the event. Similarly, Nigerian national women’s basketball team captain, Adaora Elonu, will assist Aruna, while two-time Commonwealth Gold Medalist, Odunayo Adekuoroye, has been chosen as Nigeria’s flag bearer at the event while long jump specialist, Ese Brume, will assist Adekuoroye. Nigeria will make history at the Olympics as the first African nation to compete in the Mixed 4x400m event. Despite competing just twice in this event, Nigeria holds the African Record of 3:14.09. Chioma Onyekwere is set to compete in her first Olympics. The Automotive Engineer became the fifth Nigerian athlete to pick a ticket to Tokyo after qualifying via the World Rankings system. The Discus throw specialist holds two continental titles for Nigeria (African Championships and African Games.
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After securing a spot via the world rankings (54th), Rosemary Chukwu qualified for the Olympics as the third Nigerian that will compete in the women’s 100m event. It will be recalled that Chukwuma ran a Personal Best of 11.8s and also finished second at Yaba during the National Olympic Trials. For the 400m event, Patience Okon is the only Nigerian athlete (male and female) that will compete at the Olympics. Her world ranking of 47th out of the 48 available slots, booked her ticket to Japan for her second Olympics. Currently, a total of 15 Track and Field Nigerian athletes have qualified for the Olympics. Source Making of Champs Featured Image Source: Vanguard News
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This article was first published on 2nd July 2021

ugo-chinedu

I am a Lion, I love to hit heights that seem impossible so I can motivate others and prove doubters wrong. For me, impossible is nothing. I'm open to learning and I love to read, travel and meet new faces.

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