One boxer suspended for doping.
Two Table Tennis hopefuls knocked out in round one. That is Team Nigeria’s reality as the Games got underway.
Female Boxer, Cynthia Ogunsemilore was due to contest in the 60kg class on Monday afternoon but that won’t happen.
The result of an out of competition test done on Thursday showed that Ogunsemilore tested positive for Furosemide – a banned substance on the WADA list – according to the International Testing Agency, ITA. She has consequently been provisionally suspended and banned from taking part in the Games
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The news broke after Team Nigeria’s Table Tennis Men’s Singles hopefuls, Olajide Omotayo and Aruna Quadri both lost their round of 64 games within hours at the South Paris Arena.
Incidentally both led before succumbing to defeat. Olajide took the first game against Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan 11-6, before losing the next 4 games 11-5, 11-4, 12-10, 11-8. Quadri’s exit was much more dramatic. The Nigerian top seed cruised to a 3 game lead over Romanian Eduard Ionescu before the teenager produced a furious fightback, winning the next four for an incredible 4-3 win.
Team Nigeria will feature in 3 events today
Olaitan Olaore will fight Albeck Oralbay of Kazakhstan in a Round of 16, 92kg class elimination contest while Offiong Edem will face Brazil’s Bruna Takahasi in the Women’s Table Tennis singles.
Also on the menu is the little matter of the Super Falcons in a make or mar contest against Spain in Women’s Football needing at least a point to avoid elimination after losing to Brazil in their opening match.
Fingers crossed…
By Deji Omotoyinbo, in Paris
