Okagbare Withdraws From Asaba 2018 100m, 200m Races on Health Ground

By Admin Nigeria’s Queen of tracks, Blessing Okagbare has withdrawn from the 100m and 200m races at the ongoing 21st African Athletics Senior Championships, which started in Asaba yesterday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium. It will be noted that the local organising committee had challenges in flying out athletes to Asaba airport, as well delays in accreditation processes. No reason was given for the withdrawal, which was announced by the championship’s Local Organizing Committee (LOC) on its twitter handle yesterday, but a source said Okagbare is nursing a minor injury. The sprinter, who holds Africa’s 200 metres record alongside 14 others were inducted into the African Athletics Confederation Hall of Fame on Tuesday night. Africa’s fastest man with 9.85 secs Olusoji Fasuba and Tosin Oke, who set the current U.K. junior indoor record were also honoured. Also, Nigeria’s quartet team of the 4x200m IAAF World relays champion in 2015 Christy Udoh, Regina George, Dominique Duncan and Okagabre-Ighoteguonor, were inducted. Her name was not listed on the starting list of 100m and the 200m which has been adduced to mean she could be nursing a niggle. However, she is expected to take part in the long jump event. Okagbare, who broke the 22-year-old 200m African record with a 22.04 seconds finish in March, said on Tuesday in Asaba she would be at her best at the event despite facing severe condemnations from some Nigerians over her poor form since the beginning of the season. Credit: dailytrust