Nigerian 100m hurdles finalist, Divine Bamgboye, has expressed her determination to clinch gold for the country at the ongoing Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) U18/U20 Championships holding at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Abeokuta.
Speaking to newsmen, Bamgboye described the championship as a memorable experience and stated that her primary goal is to make Nigeria proud by finishing on top of the podium.
“This event has been great, and I’ve really enjoyed it. I aim to win gold for Nigeria — that’s my focus,” she said.
The championships, which kicked off on Wednesday with 35 countries in attendance, are scheduled to end on July 20.
Bamgboye, who is competing in the U20 category, credited the National Sports Commission (NSC) for the adequate preparation provided to the Nigerian athletes ahead of the tournament. She noted that the build-up to the competition had been rigorous and beneficial, as she trained extensively with fellow athletes.
“This is my first major international outing, and it’s been exciting meeting athletes from other countries. I started athletics four years ago, and three years ago my coach introduced me to hurdles. Since then, I’ve loved it,” she added.
The 18-year-old rising star also revealed her admiration for Nigerian track icon Tobi Amusan, who recently clocked her season’s best time of 11.18 seconds at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston, Jamaica — a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver event.
“I’ve never met her (Amusan), but she’s a big motivation to me. I want to chase her records someday,” Bamgbose said.
As she looks forward to the final, scheduled for Friday, Bamgbose encouraged other young athletes to stay committed, not just for personal glory, but also for their families and the nation.
“Whatever you do, do it for your family, friends, and for the pride of the country,” she urged.
Bamgbose will be competing against seven other finalists from across the continent in the final showdown.
+ There are no comments
Add yours