In spite of enduring rehabilitation from an ankle injury sustained in 2018, a triple jump silver medallist at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG),Oritsemeyiwa Ineh says he is optimistic of a better 2019.
The recuperating athlete placed second at the YOG in Argentina by leaping a mark of 16.34m.
Ineh told newsmen, yesterday in Lagos that the setback had not in any way dampened his optimism of a quick recovery from the injury.
“My 2019 season by the special grace of God will be awesome, I’m very optimistic about that though I’m still under rehabilitation now, going through all of the pains alone with my coach from an injury I sustained representing my country.
“I represented my country in more than four competitions in 2018 and won medals.
“My gradual recuperation is enough motivation for me that 2019 season will be great, I have few more weeks before I will be fit to resume training, but I need all the support that I can get,’’ he said.
Ineh, who also won a gold medal for the country at the 2018 ECOWAS Region II Competition in Ghana, said that he would not relent in doing his country proud at upcoming competitions in 2019.
He noted that 2018 exposed him to tasking competitions internationally and he was grateful for the experience gained.
Tidesport reports that the YOG silver medalist also represented the country at the 2018 African Youth Games in Algiers and won a gold medal with a mark of 16.22m.
“2018 was my first year of competing internationally, my first international competition was ECOWAS Region II Games which held at Cape Coast, Ghana.
“The experience was superb since it was my first at an international competition, I felt competition atmospheric pressure and tension while competing with athletes from other nations.
“I learnt self-confinement, confidence and an understanding of how to shake-off fear, anxiety tension and pressure during competitions,” he said.