Rio Olympics: Three Nigerian athletes set records at the Games

– Three Nigeria athletes set records in their respective sporting events 

– Two male table tennis stars and a female made history for the country 

– A continental record was set by Aruna Quadri as he bows out 

As unprepared as Team Nigeria seem to be for the Rio 2016 Games, athletes have so far been breaking bounds at the ongoing multi-nation competition. 

Chierika Ukogu is Nigeria’s first representative in the rowing event at the Games

Three of Nigeria’s contingents have set new records which includes table tennis stars Segun Toriola and Aruna Quadri as well as Rower, Chierika Ukogu.


 Toriola’s participation at Rio makes it his seventh appearance at the Games and also, he is the oldest Nigerian participant equaling the table tennis record at the Games at 41 years of age.

Segun Toriola at 41 paticipated in his seventh Olympic Games

 Quadri set a continental record in the table tennis as the first African to reach the quarter finals of the Olympics and one of his famous victory was when he outclassed world number 7 in the third round.

Another new sensation for Nigeria at Rio 2016 is Ukogu who is making her debut at the Games and for Nigeria. Her time of 7:54:44 in the Singles Sculls propelled her into the semi finals of the rowing event. 

However, in the early hours of August 10, Quadri bowed out of the men’s singles table tennis event after losing to Ma Long 4-0, but the 28-year-old was happy with his performance so far at the Games.
 

Aruna Quadri is the first African athlete to qualify for the quarter finals in an Olympic event

“I’m happy to be playing among the best players in the world, it’s like dream come true to qualify for my second Olympics.

 “I think i’m very happy to qualify for the quarter finals. It is the best tournament of my career because i won against the world number seven and thirteen. “I’m highly impressed and satisfied with my performance,” Quadri said after his loss to Ma Long.