Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare was missing from the starting blocks during the 200m Women’s Heats today in Beijing, China.
Having fumbled in the 100m event, many including Yusuf Alli, the Technical Manager for the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, had tipped Okagbare to return strong for the 2000m events same way she did last time out in Moscow.
While many Nigerians and other athletic faithful across the world waited to see Okagbare file out in the Heat 3 of the 200m, they were taken aback not to see the double Commonwealth champion come out to compete with the rest.
“We are still waiting to confirm what led to Blessing Okagbare’s withdrawal from the 200m earlier. She was on warm-up track, Yomi Omogbeja, who is the publisher of athleticsafrica.com and currently in Beijing, posted on twitter.
However, sources in Beijing said the African champion was nursing an injury, which could become aggravated if she had participated in the race.
Meanwhile, former World and Olympic champion, Veronica Campbell-Brown, and her Jamaican teammate, Elaine Thompson, have qualified for the semi-finals of the event.
Also in the semi-finals is the silver medallist in the women’s 100m, Netherland’s Dafne Schippers.
With the 200m now off the grasp of Nigeria, the chances of medals has gone further trimmer as the country now has to wait for the women’s relay; 4x400m and 4x100m.
Tosin Oke is also in running in the Triple Jump even though many think he does not have a realistic chance of making a podium finish.
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