Sports Briefs
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UCHENNA Emedolu, a former Nigerian sprinter, has given reasons why the nation’s female athletes seem to be doing better than their male counterparts at global competitions.
Emedolu, who ran a personal best time of 9.97 secs in the 100 at Abuja 2003 All African Games to rank sixth overall best in Nigeria, said lack of encouragement from the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, was making life difficult for male athletes in the country.
Speaking ahead of the opening ceremony of talent hunt athletics programme powered by ‘Making Of Champions’, which held on Wednesday, September 30, Emedolu described those managing the nation’s athletics as “sentimental.”
“Our male athletes always have problems with the AFN financially,” Emedolu said.
Indeed, at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Nigerian female athletes won eight gold, three silver and five bronze medals to take the country to the second position in Africa, while the men could only settle for three silver and six bronze medals.
Similarly, at the African Athletics Championship held in Marrakech, Morocco, last year, Team Nigeria was able to defend its title through the efforts of female competitors.
Also, at the just concluded African Games in Congo Brazzaville, Nigerian female athletes did the nation proud, winning a greater number of the gold medals that took Team Nigeria to the second position behind Egypt.
— Oct 12, 2015 @ 01:00 GMT
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