Nigeria and Africa’s singles champion, Dorcas Adesokan has said her eyes are still glued on the Tokyo Olympics ticket despite the coronavirus crisis which necessitated the shifting of the world’s biggest games from 2020 to 2021.
Speaking to Daily Trust on Sunday, the Ogun born badminton star said she is working hard to qualify for the Olympics because it is her dream to be called an Olympian.
Adekosan, therefore, assured that though the Olympics qualifier is not going to be a stroll in the park, she would do everything possible to be in Tokyo in 2021.
She reiterated that she is ready to overcome all hurdles as she said even her closest rival Kate Foo Kune from Mauritius won’t stop her from achieving her life dream.
“If I qualify for the Olympics, it will be a dream come true for me because that has been my dream right from the beginning. I want be called an Olympian. Moreover, Olympics is the biggest tournament in the world. I will be glad to meet all the world-class players.
“No doubt, Kate from Mauritius is my toughest opponent. She was number one until I dethroned her last year. She has a lot of experience. She started playing before me and she stays in Europe so is more exposed but I have defeated her and I know I can do it again.
“At the moment, I am ahead of her so she should be the one worrying about me. I just need to attend more tournaments and play better to have a good ranking in the world to be at the Olympics,” she said.
Adesokan who said she is not resting on her oars maintained that despite the coronavirus shutdown, she is working hard to maintain her physical and mental fitness ahead of the qualifiers in 2021.
She also acknowledged the enormous support she is enjoying from the Badminton Federation in her bid to qualify for the Olympics.
“I keep fit with some exercises at home. I do skipping and some badminton related exercises. I make sure I exercise at least two hours a day. I also try to watch the kind of food I eat so I don’t get fat or weak.
“We are all getting financial and moral support from the Badminton Federation. They are like our backbone. The president of the federation has been like a father to us. We would make sure their efforts are not in vain,” she assured.
Adesokan also said her most memorable moment for now came when she defeated her fiercest rival from Mauritius to win the singles event in Port-Harcourt in 2019.
“At the 2019 All-African Badminton Championship, I won three gold medals and that was my first time to beat kate. After the championship, I became Africa number one. It is definitely my most memorable moment for now.
“Although it is more than a year already, it is still ringing in my head as if it happened yesterday. I am so excited because it happened at home. So it is really unforgettable moment for me,” she said.
