Glasgow 2014 – Team Nigeria Finishes Eighth Overall
By Tunde Eludini
Team Nigeria to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, finished eighth on the final medal tables for the multi sports event.
A string of silver medals on the penultimate day of the competition and the stripping of teenage Weightlifter, Chika Amalaha, denied Team Nigeria from making history at the tournament.
The final tally of 11 gold medals attained this time equals the previous bests attained first in Victoria, Canada in 1994 and then in and then at the 2010 edition in New, Delhi India.
All hope of Team Nigeria surpassing the 2010 edition of the Commonwealth Games where the country won 11 gold, eight silver and 14 bronze was Saturday dashed as track and field athletes could not pick any of the gold medals on display on the final day of competition in events entered for by Nigeria.
Instead, three silver medals were picked to place Nigeria in the eight position with 11 gold, 11 silver and 14 bronze.
It meant Team Nigeria could not surpass the 11 gold, eight silver and 14 bronze won in India in the 2010 edition, thereby making the 1994 edition in Victoria where the team won 11 gold, 13 silver and 13 bronze medals as the best performance so far.
Despite the inability to set a new mark, the heroics of the likes of Blessing Okagbare who set a new Games Record in the 100m Women’ s event, and went on to complete a sprint double with victory in the 200m, will remain fresh in the memories of sports lovers around the world.
Expected to start arriving the shores of the country from Monday, Sports Minister and chairman of National Sports Commission, Tammy Danagogo had re-assured Team Nigeria contingent that President Goodluck Jonathan, as part of his love for excellence in sports, will also roll out the red carpets to honour the deserving athletes who have done well for their fatherland.
AllAfrica.com
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