Patience Okon-George may be heading for her fourth IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, but the quarter-miler is looking beyond the podium as she is aiming to pick the ticket to Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.
Okon-George, whose personal best this year has been 51.6secs but she is aiming to meet the set standard of 51.3second for her eventual qualification for 2020 Olympic Games.
She told Sportinglife.ng from her base in Calabar yesterday that she is poised to rub shoulders with the world best at the iconic and technologically advanced Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.
“I am going there to give my best as usual. Although it is not too good that we are not in camp just a few days to the competition; unlike other countries that are already in camp in readiness for the championship. I am sure that our performance in Rabat, Morocco would spur us on in Doha. My aim is to pick my Olympic Games ticket. As long as I am aiming for the podium, there is no doubt that my focus will be on meeting the 51.3seconds standard in the 400m for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games,” she said.
Read Also: Qatar 2019 IAAF World Championships: Oduduru eager to get family out of poverty
Okon-George who made her debut at the World Champions in Moscow 2013 described the tournament as the dream of every athlete. “World Championships and Olympic Games are very similar in terms of quality and standard, so as an athlete making it to the tournament is a dream come true and one must cherish the moment you spend on track. I am always inspired whenever I represent Nigeria in such competition and the feeling is always awesome. This year will not be an exception as I am eagerly aiming to do my best and make myself and country proud,” the African Games gold medalist added.