Events

Budapest 2023: Chukwuma laments after 100m semifinal exit

Published

1 month ago

August 22, 2023

SMI

After finishing last in her 100m semifinal to exit the World Championships in Budapest on Monday evening, Nigeria’s Rosemary Chukwuma said she made a big mistake by taking off late from the block.

“My takeoff during the preliminary round on Sunday was far better,” Chukwuma told The Guardian soon after the semifinal event on Monday at the National Athletics Stadium in Budapest. “It’s so sad I couldn’t meet my target of reaching the final here in Budapest.

“I made a mistake at the starting point, and it became difficult for me to catch up with them. During the preliminary round, my take off was excellent, and was why I made it to the semifinal. In 100m race, any mistake is costly. I have learnt my lesson and this won’t repeat itself again,” she stated.

U.S.-based Chukwuma returned a time of 11.26secs to place eight in the race won by Jamaican and defending champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 10.89secs to qualify for the final.

American Tamari Davis placed second in the race in 10.98secs to also qualify for the final. Jamaican Shericka Jackson won the second semifinal in 10.79secs to also qualify for the final alongside Marie-Josee Ta Lou from Cote d’Ivoire who also returned 10.79secs to qualify for the final.

Sha’Carri Richardson showed up in style to snatch the gold medal in the 100m women’s final on Monday night as she stopped the clock in a championship record of 10.65, taking 0.02 off Fraser-

Pryce’s record set last year in Oregon. It was an iconic showdown that denied the Jamaicans the kind of golden finish they had envisaged.

In the last decade, Jamaican athletes have won four titles in six editions of the World Championships, including a medal sweep last year in Oregon. They were gunning for a fifth here in Budapest, but were stopped by the new sheriff in town – Richardson.

And as she crossed the line, pumping her right fist, this was indeed Richardson’s night—one that saw her rebound after missing the last edition of the World Championships due to less than favourable circumstances.

The evening had started with some drama as both Ewa Swoboda and Dina Asher-Smith finished third in their semifinals with identical times of 11.01.

Richardson also faced a scare, with her heat being a sort of final before ‘the final—drawn alongside the fastest woman this year, Shericka Jackson (10.65), and two-time 100m world medallist Marie-Josee Ta Lou (10.75). The 2019 NCAA champion was left in the blocks and had to fight for a ticket to the final, finishing outside the two automatic spots in third place (10.84).

Eventually, all three athletes were given the nod, heightening the anticipation and intensity of the race—nine athletes to one gold medal.

Julien Alfred was almost thrown off course too after being awarded a yellow card in the third semifinal for disturbing the start, which made her overly cautious leaving the blocks. Nevertheless, she came from behind to win in 10.92, with Brittany Brown following in 10.97.

The final line up was as intimidating as they come, stacked with four of the eight fastest women of all time. Any newcomer would have been fazed, but not the 23-year-old Richardson who rose to the occasion when it really mattered.

The Guardian

Events

Jos, Plateau Comes Alive As NNL AGA Holds This Friday

Published

15 hours ago

September 29, 2023

SMI

All is set for the Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria National League which is scheduled to hold in the capital city of Plateau state.

Already, stakeholders have started arriving the Tin City for the one-day deliberation.

The AGA which is the first activity of the season will see the NNL board meet with the 40 club representatives to fashion our all formalities for a successful season.

Kickoff date, format, funding and other matters of critical importance will be decided at the assembly.

NNL Chairman George Aluo who is already on the ground, gave further insight on the agenda.

“At the NNL AGA we will be rubbing minds with the club owners, share our thoughts and plans with them and be on the same page and decide when the league will start basically, as that is the most important thing so that after the AGA in Jos, we should be able to tell Nigerians when the league will kickoff.”

He continued, “The President of the NFF Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau has given us a mandate to start the league on time and ensure it aligns with the international calendar and that is the direction we want to go. So we have come up with our own plans and by the time we finish with our AGA in Jos, we’ll tell Nigerians what the plans are and how the league will be played.

He revealed that the board ” has put some plans in place as the NNL has been able to partner with the National Institute for Sports (NIS) for a pre-season capacity building seminar for our coaches. We want to upscale our coaches to make them better. Already, we have invited some resource persons from the NIS and the Technical Director of the NFF Augustine Eguavoen who will be involved in that and a Portuguese coach Thiago Conde so, at the end of the day, we would have upscale our coaches technically and before the start of the season by the time you’ve taken them to the classroom, I’m sure it will rub-off on the NNLas the 2023-2023 season gets underway.”

He appreciated the Plateau state Government for hosting the board as they begin deliberation this Friday.

Events

Colombia 2024: Falconets progress to third round as Mauritius withdraw

Published

2 days ago

September 28, 2023

SMI

The Mauritius Football Association has notified the Confederation of African Football of the withdrawal of the country’s U20 Women National Team from the ongoing African qualifying series for next year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals.

“Kindly note that CAF was informed of the withdrawal of Mauritius FA from the African qualifiers of FIFA U20 WWC 2024. Consequently, Nigeria is qualified to the next round of the competition and the missions of all officials of matches 37 & 38 are cancelled,” read a communication from CAF to the Nigeria Football Federation.

The Falconets were to fly to Mauritius next week for the first leg in Saint Pierre against the Mauritius U20 girls, with the return leg scheduled for the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 14th October.

With this situation, 2022 World Cup quarter-finalists Nigeria now progress to the next round of the qualification series.

Events

Confed Cup: Insurance players vow to beat RS Berkane for their chief motivator, Obaseki

Published

2 days ago

September 28, 2023

SMI

As Federation Cup champion, Bendel Insurance of Benin plays RS Berkane on Friday in a Caf Confederation Cup match, the players and officials said they are ready to shed blood to win for the good people and government of Edo State especially their number one supporter and motivator Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Though Insurance has a mountain to climb in the decisive leg in Morocco after they were forced to a 2-2 draw by RS Berkane at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, in the first leg on Saturday, September 16, they are confident that will beat their host and qualify for the next round of the competition.

Monday Odigie’s side will miss the services of striker Osarenkhoe Imade, who scored their opener in the first leg as well as their other goal in the last round.

The 22-year-old just penned a deal with United Arab Emirates side, United FC.

Despite missing their highest goal scorer from last season, stand-in captain and goalkeeper, Amas Obasigie, echoed the confidence of the team.

“Knowing the honour that awaits us if we beat our opponents to qualify for the group stage, we are going to fight for everything in the field of play to go home happy. We made two mistakes in Benin and will not want a repeat. We are facing very strong opponents who have been champions twice in a space of three years, but we will not allow their intimidation to affect our play. They should expect a good fight from us the way they also fought in Benin.

“Above all, we want to fight to win for our state Governor, who has been wonderful in giving his all, in sponsorship and motivation that has taken us thus far both in the domestic league and continental level,” Obasogie said.