By Ijezie Chukwuemeka
Edith Agu-Ogoke, a National female boxer, who would be fighting in 75 kg class, has gained a semi-final ticket at the ongoing 11th Africa Games in Brazzaville on account of her continental rating, an official said.
Although National Chief Coach, Tony Konyegwachie, did not disclose Agu-Ogoke’s rating, but confirmed in Brazzaville that the boxer had drawn a bye into the semis.
Agu-Ogoke, a corporal in the Nigerian Army, represented the country at the 2012 London Olympics, where she reached the quarter-final, after she was stopped by Russian Nadezda Torlopova.
She later went on to win a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Agu-Ogoke, stated in Brazzaville that she was optimistic of winning gold medal at the event. “I am here for gold and I know I can do it. I believe in myself and my ability. I also know that by God’s grace I will fulfill my dream and desire in Brazzaville.”
The All Africa Games would end on September 19.
Meanwhile, the last batch of Team Nigeria athletes departed Abuja for Congo Thursday.
The Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Al-Hassan Yakmut, led top shots of the commission to bid farewell to the contingent from Athletics, Wrestling, Judo and Taekwondo at their camp at the High Performance athletes hostel in Package B of the Abuja National Stadium.
He charged the athletes to “go do Nigeria proud by winning clean”.
He reassured them that the days when athletes, the main actors are relegated to the background are gone and that their welfare is uppermost in the mind of the present NSC.
He reiterated that athletes, both home and foreign-based would be given equal treatment and that henceforth coaches who make any team must do so on merit and not because they go on errands for federation secretaries.
He told the athletes that a presidential reception awaits them if they win laurels for Nigeria.
Responding on behalf of the athletes, long jumper Samson Idiata told the DG that all they required from the government was a good welfare package and that they were going to represent Nigeria well and win medals.
