The IAAF World Indoor Championship, SOPOT 2014 has once more underscored the decline of Nigerian athletics. With a contingent of 13 athletes at the Poland meet, Nigeria failed to make it to the medals table where a country like Djibouti did.
Indeed, to recall the last time Nigeria appeared on the medals table at the World Indoor will mean tracking back six years to Valencia 2008 when Olusoji Fasuba won the gold in 60m. Since then it has been a free fall.
Gloria Asumnu who had given earlier promise with her semi final time in the 60m, crashed when it mattered most placing 7th in a race won by Jamaican Shelly Ann Fraser- Pryce. Cote d Ivoire’s Murielle Ahoure placed second to give her country its only medal.
The women 4×4 relay team which included Folashade Abugan, Bukola Abogunloko, Omolara Omotoso and Patience Okon-George could only manage a fifth place after making it to the final.
Regina George from who a lot was expected in the 400m especially after her earlier heroics in the preliminary stages, could not complete the race as she withdrew in the semis due to injury.
A usual the men were blown out of the water. The 4x400m relay team failed to make it beyond the first round although they managed a new 3:07.95 African Indoor record.
In the Shot Put, Stephen Mozia failed to live up expectation as he crashed out in the qualifying round with a throw of 18.91m, a distance far short of the 20.79m personal best he achieved penultimate weekend at a collegiate championships in the United States of America.
Mozia interestingly only last week officially switched his allegiance to Nigeria, his country of origin from USA, his country of birth. He had represented the US two years ago at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain.
Athletics buff Dare Esan who labels the outing in Poland ‘awful’ argues that Nigeria should be making strides rather than the chain of poor outings that keep dogging every of its international meet.
“I think our performance in Poland was awful. That is the only way to describe it. Given our size and potential we should be doing far more,” observes Esan.
“Some years ago we were up there with the best. In 1997 we were placed sixth, the following year we also did well, but since then it has been a tale of woe until 2008 when Fasuba won gold in the 60m. Now I have heard people hail the fact that the women 4×400 relay team got to the final, but the question to ask is how many countries took part in it in the first place.
“The way I see it the emphasis should be on performance and how it compares with others rather than on records. Look at the men’s 4×400 Indoor record for instance, it is an event that is rarely done; very few countries participate in it. Any mediocre team can set that record, so as far as I’m concerned it is not something worth celebrating.”
Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medalist Enefiok Udo-Obong however, takes a different tack. The retired quarter miler insists that getting to the final of two events and setting an African record are not altogether feats to be diminished.
““I think Nigerian team to the Indoor Championship did well. The team made it to two finals and that is not bad; sometimes it is not all about the medals,” says Udo-Obong.
“However, I was disappointed that Regina George got injured. With her presence in the 4×4 relay team they would definitely have done better; she did the fastest time in the heats in the 400m before the injury. “
The Athens 2004 4×4 relay bronze medalist also does not think the male athletes did badly considering that they set a new African Indoor record in the 4×4 in a time of 3:07.95.
He also wonders why Abiola Onakoya was not invited for the men’s relay team: “His (Onakoya’s) presence would have made the team stronger and probably got to the final. Howbeit, the new African record is an achievement in itself. Also Stephen Mozia the shot putter did well, he’s inexperienced, it is the first time he’s competing for Nigeria, but he has a bright future.”
Vincent Eboigbe
