He described Amusan as a great fighter despite her inability
to win a medal in the final of her event in Budapest on Thursday.
Amusan came sixth in the event’s final at the National
Athletics Stadium, but Okowa said her patriotism and zeal, coupled with the
never-say-die spirit she displayed at the championships has won the heart of
Nigerians, both home and abroad.
“I am really short of words to describe Amusan,” Okowa told
The Guardian on Friday. “I was inside the airport in Nigeria when Amusan
competed, and the outcome of the race did not really matter to me. She is a
great fighter considering what she passed through in recent weeks.
“I will continue to pray for Amusan. She should put this
result behind and focus her attention on Paris 2024 Olympic Games. And as an
athlete with the big heart, I see Amusan making a podium finish in Paris,”
Okowa stated.
The AFN boss, who is also the president of African Region 2
Athletics, as well as chairman of Delta Sports Commission, also commended other
Team Nigeria athletes at the 19th World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
“It is a game, and if you don’t win today, you will win
tomorrow,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Amusan has said that she has shifted her focus to
next month’s Diamond League final in Oregon, U.S. where she will be defending
her title for the second straight season.
The 26-year-old ran a 12.12 seconds world record on the way
to winning a historic world outdoor title at the Hayward Field in Eugene,
Oregon last year.
Amusan will be hoping to end her season on a glorious note
after the emotional trauma she suffered following her provisional suspension by
the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for three Whereabouts Failures, subsequent
clearance after over a month of uncertainty and her unsuccessful world title
defence.
.jpeg)
0 comments:
Post a Comment