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Sport

Australia searching for 50 athletes, officials missing after Commonwealth Games

 

 

 

One of the venues used for the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast in Australia. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo

 

Missing
Sydney, May 22, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Australian authorities are searching for 50 athletes and officials missing a month after the 2018 Commonwealth Games ended in the host city of Gold Coast in April.

Minister Peter Dutton, told reporters in Canberra an operation had been organised to find the 50 people, and “take them into immigration detention and eventually deport them”.

He said another 190 people had sought protection visas, a class of visa in Australia assigned to refugees.

Fifteen more have applied for other types of visas.

While some participants at major international sports events overstay their visas or seek asylum in the host countries, the number of claims in Australia following this year’s Commonwealth Games is high.

Participants who went missing or sought refuge at previous Games, such as Melbourne in 2006 and Manchester in 2002 and Glasgow in 2014, typically numbered in the dozens.

More than 6,600 athletes and team officials attended the 2018 event, held on Australia’s sub-tropical Gold Coast from April 4 to April 15.

Some athletes, including those from Cameroon in Central Africa, did not show up for their events.

Dutton said on Tuesday under immigration law, people who apply for temporary protection visas are given bridging visas, which allow them to stay in Australia while their claims are processed.

Asylum seekers are a highly contentious political issue in Australia, which has a policy of stopping the flow of such people before they land in the country.

Its policy of sending asylum seekers for processing to camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru has drawn criticism from the United Nations and international rights groups.

Australia defends its tough laws by saying it deters people from making dangerous sea journeys to try to reach its shores after thousands drowned.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Oborududu says Tokyo 2020 Olympics gold now her target

Target
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, April 20, 2018 (NAN) Blessing Oborududu, Nigerian female freestyle wrestler and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, on Friday said her focus now was on winning a gold medal at the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Oborududu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that she would intensify her training to ensure that she achieved her objective of winning an Olympic gold medal.

NAN reports that Oborududu won a gold medal at the just-ended Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in the 68kg women’s freestyle wrestling event after defeating Canada’s Danielle Lappage.

“The 2018 Commonwealth Games was the best tournament I have attended so far, as I came back with a gold medal and I give God the glory.

“I think determination and my passion for the game and my target for the Games won for me the gold medal to add to my 2010 Commonwealth Games silver.

“In 2014, I won bronze. My target for 2018 was then gold, and I am thankful to God that I met my target,’’ the wrestler said.

Oborududu told NAN that she would immediately commence preparations for the upcoming World Championship holding in Budapest, Hungary in September.

She added that her target for the world championship was also to win a gold medal, which she said would boost her chances of winning a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.(NAN)
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Inexperience affected our performance at Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, AFN official says

Athletics
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, April 19, 2018 (NAN) Sunday Adeleye, Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), on Thursday said inexperience was a major challenge for the country’s athletes at the just-ended Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

Adeleye told newsmen in Abuja that the federation went to the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in the Australian city with young athletes so as to expose them to international competitions.

“Everybody was on top of their game and everybody did Nigeria and themselves proud. But this is just the beginning.

“We are going back to the drawing board to re-strategise and do what we know how to do best ahead of other continental and international championships,” he said.

He however disclosed that the federation wanted to rely more on the home-based athletes because it believes in them and has seen a proof of this at Gold Coast.

“We wanted more medals, but this is what we have with the young ones because inexperience affected us.

“That is why we exposed a lot of them through this competition so that we can conquer inexperience,’’ Adeleye said.

He however said Nigeria “carelessly’’ lost some medals in the relay events because of inexperience.

“We can say we are satisfied, but we need to go back to the drawing board and work on the lapses of the athletes to correct them before the African Championship,” the AFN technical director said.

He said the federation’s focus was on grassroots development and the African Championship would be another platform to expose the athletes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria won one gold, two silver and one bronze medals in athletics events at Gold Coast 2018.(NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Early preparation aided our performance at Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Oreweme says

Performance
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, April 18, 2018 (NAN) Tayo Oreweme, Director of Federations and Elite Athletes Department (FEAD) in the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, says early preparation aided Team Nigeria’s performance at the just-ended Commonwealth Games.

Oreweme said this on Wednesday in Abuja after Team Nigeria’s arrival from the Games at Gold Coast in Australia.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Team Nigeria finished in the ninth position with 24 medals, comprising nine gold, nine silver and six bronze.

“We thank God that we started preparations for the Games early. If we had not started early, it would have been a disaster.

“Competing in the midst of 71 countries and coming ninth in the world and second in Africa is a good outing.

“We pleaded with the Federal Government for us to start the camping of athletes early, permission was granted and we started camping in December and the result is what we have seen today.

“Early preparation and connection with our foreign-based athletes gave us an advantage,” Oreweme said.

She said Nigeria’s performance at Gold Coast looked better than that of the Glasgow Games in Scotland in 2014 because of the number of Team Nigeria athletes who participated.

“In Glasgow, we went with 126 athletes and came back with 11 gold but in Gold Coast, we went with 90 athletes and came back with nine gold.

“So, by the time we do the calculations, we will understand that we have done well,” Oreweme said.

The Sports Ministry official called on corporate bodies and multi-nationals to support sports, adding that there was nowhere in the world that government was funding sports alone.

“It was a different ball game we saw in Gold Coast. Most countries at the Commonwealth Games were either sponsored by banks, airlines and other multi-national companies.

“Government cannot continue to fund sports alone. It is time federations go all out in search of sponsors for their activities,” she said.

Also speaking, Stanley Okebugwu, the ministry’s Deputy Director of FEAD, who was the Manager of Team Nigeria at the Games, said Gold Coast 2018 was a nice outing for Nigeria.

“This is because Nigeria competed cleanly at the Games.’’

He however said there was no truth in some reports that three members of the Nigerian delegation to the Games have been declared missing.(NAN)

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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri settles for silver on final day of Commonwealth Games

Medal
Gold Coast (Australia), April 15, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Nigeria’s table tennis player Aruna Quadri settled
for silver medal on the final day of Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

Singapore’s Gao Ning, who suffered shattering defeats in the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, beat Aruna 11-7 11-8 5-11 3-11 11-9 11-5 in the men’s singles final to collect his second table tennis gold of the day.

Gao said “it was one of those matches where sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It could have gone either way. Today, I felt very calm.

“Twice I’ve been the runner up, now the winner but at the Commonwealth Games , I’ve won men’s team and men’s doubles gold medals… I’m happy to win, I just did my best.”

Gao and his team mate Yu Mengyu claimed the mixed doubles gold earlier in the day. (Reuters/NAN)
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Sport

Gold Coast 2018: Ogunlewe, Adegoke miss out on 100m medals

Athletics
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, April 9, 2018 (NAN) Seye Ogunlewe narrowly missed out of finishing in a medal position in the men’s 100 metres final of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogunlewe recorded a personal best time of 10.19 secs in a photo-finish with Jamaican athlete Yohan Blake to place fourth.

The Jamaican also posted 10.19 secs.

However, it was Blake who was given third-place and the bronze medal after a much-deliberated review by the officials.

The other Nigerian in the final, Enoch Adegoke, finished seventh with a time of 10.35 secs.

Akani Simbine from South Africa won the 100m gold with a time of 10.03 secs, while his compatriot Henricho Bruintjies won silver with a time of 10.17 secs.

The games which began on April 4 will end on April 15.(NAN)
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(Edited by Adeboye Ajayi and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Simbine upsets Blake to win 100 metres gold

Race

Gold Coast (Australia), April 9, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Akani Simbine upset Jamaica’s Yohan Blake to win the 100 metres gold medal for South Africa at the Commonwealth Games on Monday.

With a packed crowd at Carrara Stadium roaring, Simbine blazed down the straight and crossed ahead of team mate Henricho Bruintjies in 10.03 seconds.

Blake struggled for balance after a messy start and finished with the bronze in a time of 10.19 seconds, after qualifying fastest with a time of 10.06 in the semi-finals.

“I was stumbling all the way,” the 28-year-old told reporters ruefully. I just didn’t recover from it. It was a pretty easy race for me to win because I’ve been feeling good.

“It was just, never (going) to happen today, I don’t know. I’m a bit disappointed because I’ve been feeling good, I’ve been running good.”

Blake’s compatriot and athletics great Usain Bolt congratulated his former team mate and Simbine on Twitter.

“Well done @YohanBlake,” he said.

“Keep putting in the work. You know your journey.”

The path to gold was made smoother for Simbine, with England runner Adam Gemili, a 4x100m relay gold medallist at the London world championships, pulling out before the final with a thigh injury.

Michelle-Lee Ahye held off a two-pronged Jamaican challenge to claim the women’s 100m gold for Trinidad and Tobago in 11.14.

Ahye edged Christania Williams (11.21), with her Jamaican team mate Gayon Evans taking bronze.

World and Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya kicked off her bid for a Commonwealth double with a comfortable win in the 1,500m heats in four minutes and 05.86 seconds.

The South Africa flag bearer raced within herself but still qualified fastest for Tuesday’s final ahead of home runner Georgia Griffith (4:06.41) and Kenya’s Mary Kuria.

Kuria’s compatriot and medal contender Winny Chebet crashed out, however, when she fell some 70 metres from the finish after clipping the leg of local Linden Hall.

Even with the absence of Wayde van Niekerk and reigning champion Kirani James, the men’s 400 metres boasts quality and looks to be a battle between Botswana’s flamboyant Isaac Makwala and Grenada’s Rio Olympic finalist Bralon Taplin.

Makwala, who was barred from competing in the world championships’ 400m final in London last year over illness fears, qualified fastest for the final with a time of 45.00 seconds.

After crossing the line, the 31-year-old did two push-ups on the track to show his fitness and grinned at the TV camera.

New Zealand’s world champion Tomas Walsh threw 21.41 metres to take the shot put gold, going one better than his silver at Glasgow.

Stella Chesang fought off Kenya’s Stacy Ndiwa to take the 10,000m gold for Uganda and win her maiden Commonwealth medal. (Reuters/NAN)

KIA

Sport

Commonwealth Games: D’Tigers lose to Australia for third straight loss

Basketball
Abuja, April 9, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian men’s national basketball team, D’Tigers, on Monday lost 55-97 to hosts Australia at the on-going Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

The result meant D’Tigers finished bottom of Pool A with three straight losses, against New Zealand, Canada and Australia.

The Australians, playing in front of a cheering home crowd, showed their intention from the start by dominating proceedings to win the first quarter 23-17.

The second quarter was even more fruitful for the hosts, as they outpaced D’Tigers and recorded 25 points against Nigeria’s 10.

It was more of the same in the third and fourth quarters, with the Australians emerging victorious 28-14 and 21-14 respectively.

Angus Brandt, with 16 points, posted the best personal delivery in terms of points for the Australians, as points delivery were effectively distributed among the players.

Daniel Kickert, Brad Newly and Jason Cadee all followed Brandt closely with 12 points each.

Nigeria’s top performer of the day was team captain Ikechukwu Diogu with 19 points.

Godsgift Achiuwa, who had eight points, was the closest to Diogu, summing up an abysmal outing by D’Tigers.

Monday’s result shows Australia topping Pool A with three wins out of three, while New Zealand, 82-60 winners over Canada in their final pool game and with two wins, finished second.

Canada recorded one win — against D’Tigers — to finish third in Pool A.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that D’Tigers’ stand-in coach Abdulrahman Mohammed had said before the match against Australia that he could not guarantee victory against the host nation.

Mohammed had said: “It will be silly of me to put my head out and say we are going to win. I am hoping we don’t get an embarrassing scoreline.”(NAN)
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(Edited by Salif Atojoko and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Gold Coast 2018: Oriola loses to Australia’s Scott in women’s welterweight boxing

Boxing
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, April 8, 2018 (NAN) Itunu Oriola on Sunday missed the chance to become Team Nigeria’s first athlete to win at least a bronze medal at the ongoing 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oriola was outclassed by hosts Australia’s Kaye Scott in the women’s welterweight class of the boxing event.

Scott scored an impressive 5-0 final decision over Oriola to advance to the semi-finals.

The first round was a close call as Scott edged it 10-9, 9-10, 9-10, 10-9, 10-9.

It was a dominant display from Scott in the second round as she overwhelmed Oriola 10-9, 10-9, 10-9, 10-9, 10-9.

In the third and final round, it was another one-sided affair which ended the same score as the second round 10-9, 10-9, 10-9, 10-9, 10-9.

On Monday, Nigeria’s Milicent Agboegbulem will face Elizabeth Andiego from Kenya in the quarter-finals of the women’s middleweight class.(NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Gold Coast 2018: Anyalewechi misses weightlifting medal, Ojo loses to Ghana’s Addo in boxing

Games
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, April 7, 2017 (NAN) Nigeria’s Michael Anyalewechi on Saturday finished fifth in the men’s 85kg category of the weightlifting event to miss out on a medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the 15-man field, Anyalewechi lifted a total of 324kg which unfortunately was not enough to see him get a podium finish.

India’s Venkat Ragala won the gold medal after a total lift of 338kg.

Don Opeloge from Samoa won the silver medal with an effort of 331kg, while Muhamad Mohdad with a total lift of 324kg settled for bronze.

NAN also reports that Favour Agboro (men 62 kg) and Monico Uweh (women 48kg) had both failed to win any medal in their weightlifting categories on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Nigerian male boxer Sikiru Ojo was sent packing from the games after losing to Ghana’s Samuel Addo in the round of 16 in the bantamweight category on Saturday.

Adeola Soyoye (lightweight) and Osita Umeh (welterweight) had earlier been knocked out in the men’s boxing event.

After being behind in all three rounds, Ojo lost to Addo in a 4-1 decision result.

The first round was a complete dominance by Addo who won 10-9, 10-9, 10-9, 10-8, 10-9.

In the second round, it was the same score just like in the first as Addo was awarded 10-9, 10-9, 10-9, 10-8, 10-9.

The third round saw Ojo trying to get back into the fight as he edged it 10-9, 9-10, 9-10, 10-9, 8-10.

Meanwhile, the only Nigerian boxer who has advanced into the next round (quarter-finals) is Milicent Agboegbulem in the women’s middleweight.

Agboegbulem outclassed Tonga’s Salote Huni on Friday with a 5-0 score decision and will meet Kenya’s Elizabeth Andiego in the quarter-finals.(NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)