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Ethiopia challenges Nigeria for sprint medals |
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15:46, July 16, 2007 |
It was a war of words between secretary generals of the Olympic committees of Nigeria and Ethiopia as both contested dominance of athletic events of the All African Games, expected to start on July 18.
Muluaben Besse of Ethiopia''s NOC boasted that his country came to the Algiers Games poised to dominate African athletics.
"For far too long, Nigeria has always topped in athletics but we are set to end that dominion," Besse said. "There is no doubt we are the best in the middle and long distance races but we have since realised that we also have potentials in the sprints too."
"We are a powerhouse in athletics but it will be more meaningful if we add the sprints. We are now ready to claim the 100 and 200 meters in both the male and female events," he said.
"We showed flashes of our determination to challenge for the sprints during Zone Games - East and Central African Zone. Our athletes posted impressive times and we are confident they are the ones to end Nigeria''s domination," he added
"We are now determined more than ever before to expand our horizon. It is now old story to believe that Ethiopia is only good in the middle and long distances. It is not in doubt that we are the best," he said.
"We are not really interested in the 400 meters but in the 100 and 200 meters. We are not prepared to show any more respects to Nigeria in the sprints. We are coming after Nigeria and, indeed, any other country that tries to stand in our way," he said.
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