Africa Shines on Day 7

Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia

...And the race has begun. Three Africans claimed the medals at the Women’s 10,000m. Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia retained her Olympic title and won the gold medal, leaving Kenyans, Jepkosgei Kipyego and Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot, to take the silver and bronze medals respectively. Hopefully this will be the trend for the other track and field events as Africa wins the first Athletic event of the London 2012 Olympics.

The currents standings of the Women’s Heptathlon have Nigeria’s Uhunoma’s Osazuwa in 24^th place. The event continues today with the Long Jump, Javelin and 800m.

In the Women’s 100m, Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare improved on her personal best, and is ranked 2^nd place. She is definitely competing in the semifinals today. Also in the lineup for the semi finals are Murielle Ahoure of Cote d’Ivoire, who is ranked at the 6^th position, and Gloria Asumnu of Nigeria who is ranked 16^th.

Interestingly, there are two other Nigerians on the lineup who are representing other countries.

Three Africans qualified for the semifinals of the Men’s 400m Hurdles, which will take place today – Kurt Couto of Mozambique, Ameachi Morton of Nigeria, and Kasse Mamadou Hanne of Senegal.

Round 1 of the Women’s 400m has Amantle Montsho of Botswana leading the lineup for the semifinals today. Regina George of Nigeria stands at no.10. Other Africans who qualified for the semifinals include Joy Nakhumicha Sakari of Kenya, Omolara Omotosho of Nigeria and Tjipekapora Herunga of Namibia.

The first round of the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase saw Abel Kiprop Mutai and Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya, Nahom Mesfin and Roba Gari of Ethiopia, Benjamin Kiplagat of Uganda, and Hamid Ezzine of Morocco qualify for the final on Sunday.

Ghana’s Godfrey Khotso Mokoena is the only African athlete who will compete in the final of the Men’s Long Jump.

In the Men’s 1500m, Algeria’s Taoufik Makhloufi, Ethiopia’s Mekonnen Gebremedhin, Morocco’s Abdalaati Iguider and Mohamed Moustaoui, Kenya’s Silas Kiplagat, all qualified for the semifinals which will take place on Sunday.

Chad Le Clos(left)

At the Aquatics Centre, Zimbabwe's  Kirsty Coventry didn’t make it into the medal lineup, as she came in 6^th place in the Women’s 200m Backstroke, while Chad Le Clos of South Africa won a silver medal in the Men’s 100m Butterfly.

While prospects in the Athletics Tournament are looking very good, hopes for getting a medal in the Boxing Tournament seem to be dwindling. No African qualified for the quarterfinals in the Men’s Fly and Men’s Welter Categories.

In Handball, the Angolan Women’s Team, defeated hosts, Great Britain 31:25 in the preliminaries of Group A.

South Africa's Men’s Hockey Team where defeated by Spain in 2:3 loss in the preliminaries of Group A. After playing three matches, they occupy the bottom position of their group with only one point.

In Table Tennis, the Egyptian Women’s Team was defeated by Netherlands 0:3 in the First Round. The Men’s Team also had the same loss to Austria.

The Preliminary Round of Group A in the Women’s Volleyball, saw Algeria lose to Italy, 0:3. Algeria will definitely not be moving on to the Final Round, as they are currently at the bottom of the group and have not recorded any win.