Barely 72 hours to the Moscow 2013 World Athletics Championships,former Governor of Abia State, Dr.Orji Uzor Kalu feels Blessing Okagbare could do without all the hype.
Kalu said,"what Okagbare needs now is no pressure at all.Concentration is key.Setting new records in 100 metres and Long Jump is good,but not the end.There is still a long road to travel."
The ex-governor recalled that prior to the London 2012 Olympics the speed demon had won the 100m in the London leg of the Diamond League,but was unable to climb the podium much later.
"She must have grown in experience now. Beating the American duo of Carmella Jetter and Tiana Madison before the Olympics ,and hitting a Personal Best[PB] of 10.93 secs during the Games did not guarantee a medal last year as Shelly- Ann Fraser-Pryce went for gold,"Kalu added.
Okagbare was out of planet earth last week,equalling Chioma Ajunwa's 7.14 m record in the Long Jump and raising a new Continental best of10.86 secs.in the sprints.
While praising the medal hopeful, Kalu prayed against the tough luck that befell Innocent Egbunike at the Roma '87 championships.
"Egbunike was red hot before the competition.Twelve times he made sub 45.0 secs alongside Harry 'Butch' Reynolds.On August 17 1987,he set African and Commonwealth records in Zurich.Yet, when it mattered most in a couple of weeks,gold eluded Nigeria in Rome as East German dark horse Thomas Schonlebe emerged from the blues to win in a new European record of 44.33 secs.That shall not be Blessing's portion,"Kalu prayed.
Signed
Emeka Obasi
SA Media- Dr. Orji Kalu
0 comments:
Post a Comment