Team Nigeria Tokyo Olympics Day 8 Preview

Voice of Nigeria brings the full schedule of all Team Nigeria events on Day 8 of the Olympic Games taking place in Tokyo. Follow us for the latest fixtures and results of the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

D’Tigress (BASKETBALL)

D’Tigress of Nigeria will take on France by 9:20am in the women’s basketball Preliminary Round Group B at the Maitama Super Arena in Tokyo.

D’Tigress will be seeking redemption against France after losing its opening game 81-72 against the United States. A victory will give the Nigerians a chance of qualifying for the second round.

Esther Toko (Rowing) 

Nigerian rower Esther Toko will be competing in the Women’s Single Sculls Final E rowing event by 12:15am at the Sea Forest Waterway in Tokyo.

Tokyo is already out of the medals consideration after failing to qualify for the quarterfinals in her first two races in the women’s singles sculls rowing event. However, she is on course to end her campaign on a high in automatic qualification for future major Championships.

• Read more: Olympics: Abiola Ogunbanwo Breaks 14-Year-Old Swimming Record

ATHLETICS 

The women’s 100m Heats will take place by 4:15am at the Olympic Stadium Track in Tokyo as Team Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare will be competing at her fourth Olympics, while Grace Nwokocha will be making her debut.

Okagbare made her debut at the Olympics in Beijing 2008 Games where she won a silver medal in the women’s long jump. The 32-year-old has since been a permanent fixture at subsequent Olympic Games, getting to the 100m final at the London Games in 2012 but placed 8th.

For Nwokocha, Tokyo 2020 will be her first Olympics and she will be hopeful of making it a memorable one. The 20-year-old came to the limelight at the start of the year, running two new personal bests, while also winning the 100m title at the National Sports Festival in Benin City, Edo State.

Her current PB and season best of 11.09s places her 81st in the world at the moment.

The Mixed 4x400m relay Heat 1 will also take place on Friday by 12pm (noon) as Nigeria will be looking to qualify for the final of the event as they are the 2nd fastest in their heats this year.