Okagbare Bows Out of the IAAF World Championships After Coming Last

 

Nigerian athletics faces trying times following Blessing Okagbare’s decision not to start the women 200m at the IAAF World Championships on-going in Beijing, China.

This is against the background of her poor showing in the women 100m where she placed last. Before that race on Monday, Okagbare, had shown signs of distress.

Her coach was seen whispering words of encouragement into her ears.Yesterday, she was warming up for the heats of the 200m, but when the athletes were asked to report to the call room, she was nowhere to be found.

“We don’t know for sure what happened to her. Personally, I have tried the lines of the technical officials and there wasn’t any response,” said Olukoyode Thomas the AFN spokesman in Beijing.

Prior to the championships, Okagbare had excluded herself from the national trials in Warri, with an alibi that she was unfit and needed medical attention.She was given a wild card by the AFN.

Her name is also missing from the start-list of the long jump event, which starts today.