This would be our best Games ever, says Team Nigeria captain
Reigning African women 100m champion, Blessing Okagbare and other top US-based Nigerian athletes were still being expected in New Delhi yesterday by Nigerian officials.

Also as the events of the 19th Commonwealth Games began captain of the Nigeria team, Faith Obioria declared that New Delhi will be Nigeria’s best outing ever.

Okagbare has been tipped to win the women 100m and 200m gold in the absence of top challengers, like Jamaican trio of Veronica Campbell-Brown, Shelly-Ann Fraser and Kerron Stewart, and Trinidad’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste.

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It was gathered from athletics officials, that Okagbare contemplated pulling out of the Games just like the top athletics stars, but she was urged to compete by Athletics Federation of Nigeria president, Solomon Ogba.

“We are still expecting Okagbare and the others to come.  May be it was their travel schedule that made them not to arrive on Saturday night. We still have till Monday to have them in, the athletics events begin on Wednesday,” said an athletics official.

Meanwhile athletics coach, Tobias Igwe has declared that Nigeria can improve on the three silver medals won at the Melbourne 2006 Games.  Olusoji Fasuba in men 100m, Vivian Chukwuemeka (shot put) and Otonye Iworima (triple jump) won silver medals respectively.

“Some of the top Caribbean athletes, I expected to see here are absent. For this I’m hoping that our athletes will do well and in those areas,” said coach Igwe.

This would be our best Games ever, says Team Nigeria captain

As the events of the 19th Commonwealth Games began yesterday captain of the Nigeria team, Faith Obioria declared that New Delhi will be Nigeria’s best outing ever.

The para_ sport athlete who was speaking yesterday at the opening ceremony at the Jawal Nehru Stadium stated that expectations were high in the Nigerian camp and every athlete was in a good mood after they were assured of their welfare by top officials of the National Sports Commission.

“I think this would be the best outing for Nigeria. We can do better than we have done in other Games.

Speaking on her personal chances Obiora who was all smiles during the opening ceremony stated that she was out to improve on her performance at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, where she won silver in the table tennis event.

“I want to win the gold this time around. I have prepared well and with the experience I gathered from the 2006 Games, I am looking forward to winning the gold.”