Marie-Josée Ta Lou, Murielle Ahouré and Arthur Gue Cissé are the leaders of the Ivorian athletes who will be in Eugene from July 15 for the World Athletics Championships. They have more doubts this time than certainties of medals.
Our correspondent in Ivory Coast
Ta Lou and Ahouré will be the best chances for medals at the Eugene World Athletics Championships.
The 2022 World Athletics Championships are actually scheduled for July 15, 2022, in Eugene, USA. Six Ivorians will be among the first to start. These are the two arrows, former vice-world champions, Murielle Ahouré (100 and 200m) and Marie-Josée Ta Lou (100m), the prodigy Arthur Cissé (100m) and three novices who are Jessika Gbai (200m) , Maboundou Koné (200m) and Razak Ismaël Koné (200m). This season’s results in the Diamond League for the Ivorians are very different to previous years. Ta Lou who finished 3rd in Paris or even 5th in Zurich, Arthur Cissé 5th in Lausanne… A few hours from the world competition, in other words, serenity is not in order in the camp of the fans. Anthony Koffi, the national coach, assures his troops that they are in good spirits and have great confidence.
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” Arthur is my daily work partner and I am not objective about his level of performance. I know that he feels happy, just like everyone else. Today, they must compete with the best in the world and also think about improving their personal records. Him, Marie-Josée and the others must concentrate on it “, confided Koffi, the Ivorian coach to Sports News Africa. It will be difficult for Cissé to do better than his 9s 93 or for Ta Lou (10 s78) to go below 10 seconds, but the National Technical Director assures that they are in good shape, despite everything we can to believe.
A strict selection
These are the best at the moment and have been chosen for the Eugene World Athletics Championships. Apart from the sprinter Méité Massemo, injured, the whole vintage is present and able to fight to bring back charms to the country. Among the women, Ta Lou will be the headliner as will Cissé Gue among the men. Despite mixed results, they still have a chance to fulfill the Ivorians’ dream. According to the DTN, they are ready to conquer Uncle Sam. Koné Razak is in great shape. Cissé qualified for the world ranking. At least Ta Lou and Murielle were qualified. Ta Lou is in good shape. Murielle is a little bit less, but that’s okay. Gbai will be attending her first Worlds, but she has her own opinion. Koné Maboundou also. Her ranking also allows her to travel there. “, specified Sié Poda, who evokes chances of medals.
” Ta Lou and Murielle have real medal chances. This is for the ladies. We are aiming to reach the finals for the men. Anything is possible from there. It is so difficult to travel to the United States right now that many athletes will not be able to make it. It might be a good idea. We even have a chance of winning something. Ta Lou, Murielle, Gbai and Koné are already residents of the United States. They were able to concentrate and avoid the hassle. They were able to focus. Cissé Gue will arrive a little tired because he will be in the USA on the eve of his race. Keep your fingers crossed for him “, he concluded. To date, Côte d’Ivoire’s best performances at the World Athletics Championships are the silver medals of Murielle Ahouré in 2013 and Ta Lou in 2017 over the queen distances 100 and 200m.
Severin SANH
Source: sportnewsafrica
