Nesiama hails rising shot ut star Jessica Oji

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...Draws comparison to Vivian Chukwuemeka’s era

By Maxwell Kumoye 

 

Former Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Technical Director, Retired Commodore Omasteye Nesiama, has hailed Nigeria's Jessica Oji following her historic triumph at the World U-20 Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA, where she claimed the women's shot put gold medal with a championship-winning throw of 18.08 metres.

Oji's latest achievement comes on the heels of her silver medal-winning performance at the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, underlining her rapid rise as one of Nigeria's brightest prospects in the throwing events.

Reacting to the youngster's success, Nesiama, a respected athletics administrator and former military intelligence officer, described Oji's emergence as a major milestone for Nigerian athletics.

According to him, Oji's accomplishments represent the level of success he had always hoped to see from Nigeria in the women's shot put at the senior level.

"I am impressed and congratulations to the young lady. It's a position like this I wanted to find Vivian Chukwuemeka at the senior level that she never got to achieve," Nesiama said.

The former AFN Technical Director also applauded fellow Nigerian thrower Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and Coach Gabriel Opuana for the remarkable progress made by the country's throwing programme.

Recalling his visit to the team's training base in Glasgow before the Commonwealth Games, Nesiama said he was convinced the athletes were primed for success after witnessing their preparations firsthand.

"I followed them to the training pitch at Glasgow before the Games started and one could see the chemistry between the throwers and indeed the two shot putters. Gabriel Opuana told me that the two throwers were in the best shape of their lives. It has showed," he remarked.

Expressing optimism about the future of Nigerian athletics, Nesiama urged the athletes to remain focused and continue building on their recent achievements.

"May the upward trend continue in Jesus Name. Amen," he concluded.
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