#TokyoOlympics: Team Nigeria continue the losing Streak
At the close of activities on day 4 of the Tokyo Olympics, a total of 56 countries have won at least one medal. Africa now has four countries on the medals table as South Africa joined Tunisia, Egypt and Cote divoire after wining 2 Silver medals.
The Nigerian team is yet to win a medal as the athletes are yet to find their rhythm at the games. On Tuesday, Haruna Quadri lost to Tsuboi Gistavo of Brazil in table tennis men’s singles round 3 while the Nigerian basketball team lost to Team USA in group b of the women’s preliminary round. Also, in badminton, Olofua Godwin lost to Ivanov Gladimir of ROC in the men’s double group b event and Adesokan lost to An Sayoung of South Korea in the women’s single group c event
Japan rose to the top of the medals table with 10 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze medals; Team USA is on the second position with 9 gold, 8 silver and 8 bronze medals; Team China occupies the third position with 7 gold, 5 silver and 7 bronze medals; ROC is on the fourth position with 7 gold, 7 silver and 4 bronze medals while Britain retains the fifth position with 4 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals.
On Tuesday the Philippines won their first-ever Olympic gold medal after 97 years of participating at the games. Hidilyn Diaz made the history on Monday when she won the gold medal for women’s 55-kilogram weightlifting, ending the Philippines’ gold medal drought that started when it first began participating in the Summer Games in 1924.
Diaz won with a total of 224 kiograms, an Olympic record and just one more than second-place finisher Liao Qiuyun of China. Liao also set the world record for 55 kilograms in 2019 with 227 kilograms.
Diaz was tied with Liao going into the clean and jerk. She’d made two other attempts to lift her final weight of 127 kilograms, which would put her ahead of Liao. She had just one more attempt left, so it all came down to the dramatic final lift. Once she’d lifted the bar over her head and heard the buzzer, she dropped it and burst into tears as members of her team came over to embrace her.
The Philippines won its first bronze medal in 1928, when Teofilo Yldefonso finished third in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke. 36 years later, Anthony Villanueva gave the Philippines its first silver with a second-place finish in featherweight boxing. But Monday was the first time the country’s national anthem was played during the medal ceremony.
Also on Tuesday, Naomi Osaka, face of the Tokyo Olympics, was knocked out in third round of the Tennis game.
Olympic champion Simone Biles was forced to pull out of the gymnastics team finals due to a “medical issue”.
A statement from USA Gymnastics said: “Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue. She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions.”
The record-breaking American athlete had a rocky start in the final, where the US was looking to secure a third straight Olympic title. The 24-year-old bailed on her planned Amanar vault, opting for an easier one in mid-air, and then struggled with the landing. The rare misstep allowed the gymnasts from Russia to open up a one-point lead after the first rotation.
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