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World Athletics Champs: Team Nigeria can win medal in Doha- Ibadin

 

If there is anyone that believes in the ability of Team Nigeria to medal at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships, it is the 800m national record holder, Edose Ibadin.

Nigeria has failed to win medal in the last two editions of the tournament in China and London with Blessing Okagbare contributing silver and bronze in the long jump and 200m events at the 2013 edition in Moscow, Russia.

However, the electrical engineering graduate of Hampton University, Virginia, United States told Sportinglife.ng Wednesday that with what happened at the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Nigeria can mount the podiums in Doha adding that his target was to take each round as it comes.

With 34 athletes already listed by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for the event which kicks off on September 27 to October 6 in Doha, Qatar, the 26-year-old who is making her second appearance at the tournament is excited about the prospect of testing his might against the best in the world.

“World Championships is different than most tournaments because you are dealing with the whole world and not just certain regions. The atmosphere is a lot more intense in my personal opinion. Officials there don’t mess around and everything is usually on point from the warm up track to the call room.

“My target in Doha is to take things one round at a time. I want to make the final because once you make the final anything can happen. I would also like to set a new PB and hit the Olympic standard,” he added.

Ibadin is optimistic of the team when he said: “I think Nigeria can definitely win medal in Doha. We are loaded in the sprints and we can definitely medal if everyone is well prepared.

Blessing Okagbare clinched Bronze in 200m long jump

“My expectations in Doha are to advance through the rounds. Run smart and intelligently, stay out of traffic and have overall clean races” he said.

At the 2017 edition of the tournament in London, Ibadin failed to make it to the final though he finished in top 20.

There are indications that Team Nigeria may depart on September 23 to Doha with the foreign-based joining up with the team on September 24 in Doha.

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