Alli said: “Female athletes have been running well at previous Games, this one was however different based on the fact that all gold medals came from female athletes and we are glad about it”
By Uzor Odigbo
Commonwealth Games Team coordinator and long jump national record holder (8:27m), Yusuf Alli, said Team Nigeria has bounced back and hopes to build on the recent success at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Speaking on the last day of the Games in United Kingdom, Alli said Team Nigeria’s brilliant performance at the Games shows that efforts in discovering and providing competitions for athletes are not in vain.
“Nigeria has bounced back and our athletes performance can attest to it. This is just the beginning and will continue to the next All Africa Games in Ghana next year and ultimately, the Olympic Games in France in 2024,” Alli said.
A news outfit monitored in Lagos opined that the Executive Chairman Edo State Sports Commission averred that what the Athletes need now is a sustained funding for training, welfare and competitions.
“Some of these athletes are young and will be competing for many years ahead,” the long jump record holder said.
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On the performance of Team Nigeria at the Games, Alli said: “This is the first time Team Nigeria would go beyond 11 gold medals at any Commonwealth Games, adding, this time, Nigeria did not only surpassed previous records, it also improved on past performance with 12 gold medals and also placed tops in Africa on medal standing.”
Alli extolled the contributions of female athletes on the road to Team Nigeria’s triumph at the Games. “Female athletes have been running well at previous Games, this one was however different based on the fact that all gold medals came from female athletes and we are glad about it”
Team Nigeria finished 7th in the world with 12 gold, 9 silver and 14 bronze medals