Team Nigeria will be involved in six events on Friday (today) as the athletics events of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games get underway.
Nigeria’s hopes of clinching medals at the Games are heavily linked to the track and field events. All eyes will be on high jumper Temitope Adeshina, women’s discus trio Ashley Anumba, Chioma Onyekwere, and Obiageri Amaechi, shot put thrower Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, and the mixed 4x400m relay team. They will compete in the first round of their respective events at the Stade de France.
Indoor and outdoor national record holder and three-time national champion, Adeshina, making her Olympic debut, will compete at 9:15 am in the women’s high jump qualifiers. With a personal best of 1.97 m, Adeshina is among 32 jumpers vying for a place in the final. “She will be guaranteed a place in the final if she replicates the mark that earned her spot in Paris or ranks among the 12 best performers in the qualifiers,” stated the AFN.
The evening session will see the women’s discus throw event, featuring one-time African champion Anumba, Commonwealth Games and two-time African champion Onyekwere, and reigning African Games champion Amaechi. Speaking on her debut, Amaechi said, “Being here alone is a dream come true, and being able to be part of this historic three is even sweeter than just coming here alone because we have all been working hard.”
In the men’s shot put, two-time African Championships and African Games winner, Enekwechi, will compete for a spot in the final.
On the track, the mixed 4x400m relay team will compete in Heat 2, facing strong competition from Great Britain, the Netherlands, Ireland, the Dominican Republic, and Italy. “Only the top three countries from the heat will book automatic qualifications into the final on Saturday,” noted the AFN.
