Tokyo 2020: 5 Weightlifters, Officials Leave Nigeria For Uzbekistan Today

Tokyo 2020: 5 Weightlifters, Officials Leave Nigeria For Uzbekistan Today

By Niyi Busari

No fewer than five weightlifters will leave Nigeria for Uzbekistan in their quest to pick the Olympics tickets for the Tokyo 2020.

The athletes who have been in camp for ten days preparing for good outing at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja will arrive the venue of the championship on 8th February, 2020.

Speaking with www.bsnsports.com.ng in Abuja, the secretary general of the Nigeria Weighing Federation, Okere Emmanuel reiterated that the federation has no doubt in the capacity of the athletes and promised Nigerians of good outing.

In his words, "The federation is preparing to qualify some of the gold medallists in 2019 African Games for the Olympics. We have been in camp for the past 10 days, meanwhile, the athletes in their different states have been training vigorously in preparation for the National Sports Festival. So, we no doubt in their capacity, what we are doing at the national stadium is to fine tune their skills and make sure they are on the right track.

"The weightlifters will be leaving Nigeria for Uzbekistan on Friday morning for another Olympics qualifier. Five athletes will be traveling for the competition to participate in the 49kg female, 76kg female, 59kg female and 67kg male.

The athletes includes; Fatima Musa who won three gold medals at the African Games, Emmanuel Akpan who also won three gold medals in Morocco, Olarinloye Adijat who won one gold and two silver at the African and also broke African record in the Snatch 55kg female category and Rafiat Lawal who bagged three gold medals at the African Games." Okere told BSN Sports.

The secretary of the federation added that there will be final qualification series in April, according to him, the points garnered by individual athlete will be added and the lifter with the highest points in each category qualify for the Olympics.

"Though, there is still final qualifier in April, The African Championship. It is then the athletes' points will be calculated and the lifter with the highest points pick the Olympics ticket."

However, Nigeria is standing a big chance of qualifying her athletes for the Olympics because Egypt is banned and are out of true 2020 Olympics.

Nigeria will arrive on the 8th, do the entry and verification, then the competition starts from 9th to 12th February.