By Ben Efe
Athletics Federation of Nigeria made good its threat to drop athletes who failed to meet set standards, that were set for the Commonwealth Games, beginning October 3 in New Delhi, India.

The list of qualified athletes released Wednesday night, revealed that only five male athletes made the team and they include Ogho-Oghene Egworo, Peter Emelieze who recently ran their personal best in the 100m. Others were African Championships long jump bronze medalist, Stanley Gbagbeke, 110m hurdlers Salim Nurudeen and Samuel Okon.

The implication of this selection is that Nigeria, will not present any male relay teams in the Games. A sad development perhaps, for a nation that won a 4x400m gold at the Sydney Olympics, and 4x100m bronze at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 and the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.

The women are doing exceedingly well, and so Nigeria will field the 4×100 and 4x400m women squads. Blessing Okagbare, Damola Osayomi, Agnes Osazuwa, Lauretta Ozoh and Endurance Abinuwa are listed for the short sprints and the 4x100m relay.

While Shade Abughan, Margaret Etim will do the 400m flat and of course the 4x400m, they tagged by Josephine Ehighie, Bukola Abogunloko and Ajoke Odumosu who will also compete in the 400m hurdles.

Seun Adigun is in, for the women 100m hurdles. And Comfort Onyali, Nkiruka Dominike, Otonye Iworima will feature in the long and triple jump respectively.

“We are presenting athletes who we are sure will give us medals. The era of taking a crowd to international competitions and creating a lot of scene is over. We want total concentration and not confusion in camp,” said AFN president Solomon Ogba yesterday.