The decision by Nigeria ’ s sprint queen and lone medal hopeful at the on - going Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast , Australia , Blessing Okagbare -Ighoteguonor not to compete in the usual 100 m and 200 m is not going down well with some top officials of the Sports Ministry

Okagbare recently smashed the 22 . 07 seconds African 200 m record set by Mary Onyali some 22 years ago.

She also had a blistering performance in the 100 m at a recent meet in Texas , USA , to raise hopes of another successful sprints double , when she defend her Commonwealth Games titles .

Unknown to many, Okagbare had entered for only the 4 x100 m relay event instead of the usual 100 m , long jump and 200 m events. Team Nigeria ’ s camp in Australia is said to be in turmoil since it was discovered Okagbare had opted for one event.

However , a top official of the team , who spoke with The Guardian yesterday from the Gold Coast , Australia , hinted that some top officials of the Sports Ministry , as well as the Nigeria Olympic Committee ( NOC ) were ‘ working ’ on Okagbare to change her decision .

“ I have spoken with Okagbare on this issue and I can tell you that she is not happy with the way Nigerian government treated her when she was injured . This girl went through a lot for over three months battling with her injury , and many people thought she wouldn’ t recover from it not to talk of running fast again . There was no form of assistance or financial grant to assist her during the rehabilitation . She felt abandoned by the Sports Ministry and the AFN . She feels it is not worth taking risk for the country that abandoned her in time of need . But some top officials are talking to her . Maybe , things could change before athletics events commence on April 9 , ” the official said .

The Guardian also learnt yesterday that apart from the anxiety in Team Nigeria ’ s camp, organisers of the Commonwealth Games are also unhappy that Okagbare will not be defending the sprint titles she won at the last Games .


Source:https://m.guardian.ng/sport/ministry-officials-noc-beg-okagbare-to-run-100m-200m-at-common-wealth-games/