Honorable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Nigeria’s female basketball team, D’Tigress, for their historic achievement at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
In a remarkable display of tenacity and resilience, D’Tigress reached the quarterfinals for the first time ever, following a decisive 70-58 victory over Canada. This achievement makes them the first African team, male or female, to advance to the Olympic quarterfinals.
D’Tigress’s journey included a standout performance in the group stage, where they won two out of three games, culminating in their thrilling triumph over the world’s fifth-ranked team, Canada.
They achieved notable victories against Australia and Canada, and lost gallantly to the host nation, France, in a closely contested match.
Enoh expressed immense pride in the team’s achievement, stating: “D’Tigress have made our nation proud with their remarkable performance. Their journey to the quarterfinals is a testament to their dedication, hard work, and unyielding spirit.”
He further added: “This victory is more than just a game; it represents the heart and determination of every player who has contributed to this achievement. D’Tigress have shown that with perseverance and teamwork, we can reach new heights. We are all incredibly proud of them and look forward to their continued success in the tournament.”
The D’Tigress, who have navigated numerous challenges and celebrated significant successes over the years, now stand poised to continue their impressive journey in the tournament.
Enoh concluded: “We salute the D’Tigress for their incredible accomplishment and wish them the very best as they advance to the next stage of the competition. Their success is a beacon of hope and a symbol of excellence for Nigerian sports.”
Ukraine’s Mahuchikh wins women’s high jump
Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh added the women’s Olympic high jump gold medal to her collection, clearing 2.00 meters at the Stade de France amidst enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
Australian Nicola Olyslagers earned silver, while Ukraine’s Iryna Gerashchenko and Australia’s Eleanor Patterson shared the bronze.
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Mahuchikh, who fled her hometown of Dnipro following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has continued to excel in her sport. She secured Olympic gold just weeks after setting a new world record with a 2.10-meter jump, surpassing the previous record that had stood since 1987.
The world champion cleared the winning height on her first attempt and took the gold over the Australian by virtue of having fewer failures, bowing to the crowd as she took one shot at clearing 2.04m but knocked the bar down.
Mahuchikh was all business and kept her cool during the competition as she laid down on the ground with a sleeping bag wrapped around her while her competitors took their turns.
She and Olyslagers were the only two not to knock the bar down through 1.98 and it was game on from there, as the Australian revved up the crowd but could not get over 2.00m until the third attempt.
Neither competitor could get over 2.02 and Mahuchikh, her eyes adorned with blue-and-yellow makeup in her country’s colours, smiled after her failure at 2.04.
The bronze medal winners, who could not clear 1.98 but reached the podium with the fewest failed attempts during the competition, each ran to the stands as it became clear they were going home with a piece of Olympic hardware.
Gerashchenko threw her arms around her compatriot after the competition wrapped up and the pair jogged around the stadium with Ukrainian flags draped over their shoulders