LAGOS – Tobias Igwe, former Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) coach said with adequate training Nigeria’s female athletes could beat their Jamaican and US counterparts in track events at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Igwe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday that Nigeria’s strength in track [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]events, especially the 4×400 would be added advantage to its female athletes.
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“We have the 4×400 women, most of who are running 51, 52 seconds.
“They can be pushed to (run) 50 seconds, 49 seconds and that will be a very good team for Nigeria in the Olympics.
“But for the coach to make an impact, he has to get gifted coaches, who can push the girls to (run) 49 seconds, 50 seconds for them to (be able to) beat Jamaica and the USA in the 4x400m (event).
“That is the event for which we can win medals at the Olympics.
“Blessing Okagbare in the 100m, 200m and the long jump and then the girls in the 4x400m.“
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He said though the performance level of the athletes in track events had fallen, AFN should be given the opportunity to raise the performance level.
He said, “I hope AFN will be able to come up with a good strategy because we need more athletes, who can do the country proud.“ (NAN)