With few days to go before the end of 2024 Paris Olympics, hope for Nigeria to be on the medal table is gradually fading away as many Nigerian athletes have crashed out.
Though, it’s not yet over but it’s seems as if it will be a journey of empty handed at the end of the Olympic.
Promises upon promises, before the game, the Ministry of Sport Development and Nigeria Olympic Committee ,NOC, has vowed to end the country’s 2024 search for Olympic gold medals at the upcoming Paris 2024 Games in Paris.
Nigeria’s last Olympics gold medal was won at the Sydney 2000 Games where the nation’s 4x400m men’s team won a silver which was later converted gold by the IOC after the disqualification of the U.S. team for fielding a drug offender in the final race
Just before the game, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved over N12 billion for Team Nigeria’s preparation and participation at the forthcoming 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, France.
Among the team and athletes that have crashed out are, Super Falcons who completed a hat trick of losses at the Paris 2024 Olympics after losing 3-1 to their Japanese counterpart on Wednesday to exit the game with no points.
Before Falcon’s exit , Aruna Quadri, Fatimah Bello, Olajide Omotayo, and Edem Offiong have all been eliminated from the Table Tennis event while Adam Olaore also suffered first-round elimination in the boxing event.
Also, the Nigeria’s captain and African Champion, Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori suffered a disappointing defeat in his second Group game against China’s Li Shi Feng in the Men’s Singles Badminton event at the Paris Olympics.
This loss marks Opeyori’s second defeat at Paris 2024, ending his Olympic journey in the first round.
All attention for medals will now shift to Athletics with the event that started on Thursday August 1, in Paris
A total of 35 Athletes will be competing for honours in their different track and field events.
Expectations are high with the exploits of Tobi Amusan; winning the Gold medal in the 110 meters hurdles at the last World Championship setting a world record in the event.
A podium finish is at least expected as Tobi Amusan is a hot prospect for the gold medal.
Ese Brumen is another athlete’s Nigerians will be backing her for a podium finish in the long jump, the event that gave Nigeria her first ever Gold medal at the Olympics courtesy of the Chioma Ajunwa effort at the Atlanta 96 Olympics.
Other events could spring surprises while Nigerians are anxious to see how the relays will go, though watchers are optimistic that Nigeria could win a medal in the relays.
The question on the lips of many Nigerians is how many medals will Athletics return for Team Nigeria, the coming days?
