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Hopeful Ese Brume storms London today

By Gowon Akpodonor
04 August 2017   |   4:19 am
One of Nigeria’s flag bearers in the 2017 World Athletics Championships, Ese Brume will depart for London today with a vow not to disappoint the nation in the long jump event.

Ese Brume. PHOTO: FRANCK FIFE / AFP

• Usain Bolt’s rival, Grasse suffers hamstring tear

One of Nigeria’s flag bearers in the 2017 World Athletics Championships, Ese Brume will depart for London today with a vow not to disappoint the nation in the long jump event.

Meanwhile, Canadian sprinter, Andre de Grasse, regarded as one of Usain Bolt’s main challengers for the 100m title in London, will miss the championship following a hamstring tear.

The first set of home-based Nigerian athletes left for London yesterday after picking their visas from the British High Commission. Others, who could not get their visas yesterday, are expected to depart today.

Though, Brume was among those that got their visas yesterday, the Commonwealth and African long jump champion opted to shift her travel plans till today. She told The Guardian yesterday that she would put in her best in the championship with a target of a medal for Nigeria.

Action begins today with attention focused on male sprinters, while the female, including Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, will take to the tracks tomorrow. Brume will have to wait till Wednesday, August 9 before testing action in the championship.

De Grasse, a 22-year-old Canadian sprinter, won 200m silver, 100m bronze and 4x100m relay bronze at Rio 2016 and ran a wind-assisted 9.69 seconds in Stockholm in June.

“Injuries are a part of the sport, and the timing of this one is especially unfortunate,” he said.

“The entire year this 100m race in London was my focus. I am really in the best shape of my life and was looking forward to competing against the best in the world. To not have this opportunity is unimaginable to me but it is the reality I am now faced with.”

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