Again, Team Nigeria hopes on female athletes for medals in Beijing 2015

As it happened last year in Glasgow, where Team Nigeria had to rely on female athletes for medals at the Commonwealth Games, what appears to be another ‘all-female show’ for the country may be at foot, this time, in Beijing, China, venue of this year’s IAAF World Athletics Championship.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), yesterday released its list of athletes for the World Championship, with female athletes dominating the squad. It has 14 female and just three male athletes.

They will depart Abuja on Tuesday for Beijing. Leading the pack is Commonwealth and Africa track queen, Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor.

There is also US-based sprinter, Gloria Asumnu, who won the 100m race at the recently concluded All Nigerian Open Championship in Warri, Delta State.

Other female athletes in the squad are Stephanie Kalu, Cecilia Francis, Deborah Odeyemi, Patience Okon George, Regina George, Oluwatosin Adeloye, Margaret Etim, Rita Ossai, Uhunoma Naomi Osazuwa, Doreen Amata, Lindley Weyinmi Lindsay and Amaka Ogoegbunam. The three male athletes making the trip are Tosin Oke, Tega Odele and Miles Ukaoma.