GenBuhari: what are our male athletes' prospects?

GenBuhari: Blessing is capable of a medal. I can not see her getting the gold though

hardeyincah: pls shed more light on dis Akinyemi Guy that qualified for canoeing/kayak..... What are his chances

ola_pluto: wrong...Funke Oshonaike is 1st Nigerian on show. Women's singles is happening from 8:15am on saturday. I pray she gets a good draw. She's a veteran of sort.

ola_pluto: Oh lest I forget...Blessing Oborodudu (apparently dating coach Igali, himself a former olympic gold medalist). Blessing is good. She can get to semi...She won the African championship.

GenBuhari: what are our male athletes' prospects?

GenBuhari:

Is that in tennis?



Nigeria's only gold medals were both in 1996 - Chioma Ajunwa and Men's Football, so unless he represented another country, Igali could nt have won a gold for Nigeria.

GenBuhari:

Is that in tennis?



Nigeria's only gold medals were both in 1996 - Chioma Ajunwa and Men's Football, so unless he represented another country, Igali could nt have won a gold for Nigeria.

Jamesqu: Oh, how I long for the days of Atlanta 96...up until Chioma's gold everything was looking bleak, but immediately she won...everyone was like I must get me a medal too o...and the harvest started, Falilat, Onyali etc.

But I'm a bit pessimistic about London. While Blessing is having a good year her events are highly technical. You will recall that she only got the Bronze (Long Jump) in Beijing due to one of the finalist failing a dope test and opened the door for her to try her luck. She must learn from Ajunwa, the first jump is the ultimate....she must produce a 7.00 at least in the first round where she has only three attempts. Then in the final, she must do at least a 7.10 to medal from her first jump...I wish her the best.

She beat the Jamaicans in Monaco (10.96) in the 100m just last week, so she is in form...I expect her to get to the final but must match Alozie's AR of 10.90 to medal...If she can't do a sub 10.00 in the final, there's no hope for her....the Jamaicans and Americans are doing this esily, remember 10.96 is even her PB.

Ajoke Odumosu (CommonWealth Champ) too is a hope...I doubt she has doen a sun 50 yet and that is what will be required for a medal....Falilat didi an AR of 49.10 to win just Bronze and Cathy Freeman did a 47s for the gold so she knows what is expected of her. But games differ and some 400mW have been won with less time with the quality of the field largely determinant. Nice one think you are objective but whar of table tennis any hope?

I have absolutely no hope in the realys. The field is tough and we don't have any of our top 4 athletes being consistent. At barcelona 92 we had 2 men each in the 100mM and 200mM final so our Silver in the 4x100m was expected. These were guys doing sub 10s. Utondu, Opara-Thompson, Idehen and Onyali too were a superb team and only got Bronze...except one of the favs mess-up...I dont have any hope here. The 400m is even worse..the women may nibble the final but the men....

Vivian threw (Short Put) an AR (I believe) of 18.96 in Benin recently, she may make the final but then its anybody's...she is an experienced and seasoned athlete so she MUST make the final after all these years. I believe that is also in the top 15 best throws of the year or something like that.

Chukwumerije MUST medal too in the taekwondo. Had a ridiculous Bronze instead of gold at Beijing (injury, I think) and struggled to qualify. In form now so I am expectant. In think this is my biggest hope anyway.

Our boxing has completely collapsed. I think we have only 2 or so boxers at the games, appaulling! Weight-lifting...smh.

Except our Basketballers can draw inspiration from Kanu et al, it will be tough. Quite commendable they beat Dominican and shockingly Greece to qualify but....their group is fire. If they fail to beat Tunisia on Sunday then they might as well leave. beating Tunisia and a bit of luck will see them to the quarter-final. they need to come 4th in a 6 team group. If they beat Tunisia, manage a result against France (beans)....then Lithuania, USA....it wont be easy but ask Bebeto and Argentina how Kanu and co dealt with them.

In Summary, best case Chukwumerije Gold, Blessing Silver (LJ) Bronze (100mW), Ajoke Bronze (400mW) and Bronze (4x400mW)....anything short of this would be a disaster.....I can't wait. I love the Olympics.

ola_pluto: London Olympics has something about it that makes me have hope in Nigeria's performance. Atlanta 96 was our best till date. But then, I think London can surpass that. We currently have very few 'gold medal sureties' but we have folks that can replicate Atlanta magic. I will list the sports we're taking part in and my view of our chances.

Athletics
No doubt Nigerian women are our best chances at any medal in athletics.
Blessing Okagbare has underlined her credentials. She runs 10:96 less than 20 days to Olympics finals. If she stays injury free, she will be a medal contender. I believe she can win a gold medal in 100m if she can stay fit and focussed. She has the psychological advantage over the best athletes in her group. She has beaten them in recent times. I believe she will break the African record of Gloria Alozie( 10:90).

It is a shame Damola Osayomi is not in shape. Damola could have also made the finals in 100m. Gloria Asumnu is Nigeria's other female 100m entrant. She will make the semi-finals but will need to work harder to get into the final 8. It is a big ask, but she can do it.

In 200m, I am excited at the prospect of watching Christy Udoh. A very young talent who is developing fast and a threat for the future. Lauretta Ozoh is a threat too, but there hangs a big drug issue on her head and she may not feature in London.

400m is the face am particularly interested in. Nigeria will be presenting 2 very young ladies who are raw talents. Omolara Omotosho and Regina George. One of them will win a gold in the next olympic games if they get a good training regime before next olympics.

For now, I think Regina will make the final (with hard work) and Lara will make the semis. Abogunloko should be the Okagbare of 400m, but she needs coach Innocent Egbunike to do more work on her. 400m will spring the biggest surprise.

We have a great coach in Innocent, and I believe the ladies are improving. Regina George has erased her PB so many times in the last 2 months.