Action kicks off today in Budapest, Hungary, at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships. Nigeria is sending its top athletes to compete in three events on the opening night of this new competition, according to The PUNCH.
Leading the Nigerian team is star hurdler and former world champion Tobi Amusan. Nigeria will take part in the women’s 100m hurdles semi-finals and possibly the final, the mixed 4x100m final, and the women’s 400m semi-finals.
The first medal at the championship will be up for grabs in the mixed 4x100m relay. Nigeria will compete against Hungary, Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Germany, and the United States.
Amusan will run in the semi-final of the women’s 100m hurdles. Ella Onojuvwevwo will also be in action in the women’s 400m semi-finals. The final for the women’s 100m is scheduled for one hour and 16 minutes after the semi-finals.
Nigeria's team in Budapest includes a mix of well-known stars and rising talents in both individual and mixed relay events. Amusan is also set to run in the mixed 4x100m event, but the schedule means she may need to focus on the hurdles.
The mixed 4x100m team features Alaba Akintola, Favour Ashe, Miracle Ezechukwu, Udodi Onwuzurike, and Rosemary Nwankwo. However, as of Thursday, Ezechukwu was still waiting for her visa. If she does not arrive in Budapest on time, the team will be incomplete.
Apart from the opening night events, Nigeria will also have strong athletes in the men’s 100m. Kanyinsola Ajayi will compete in the second semi-final on Saturday against tough competitors such as Ackeem Blake, Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs, South Africa’s Akani Simbine, and USA’s Kenneth Bednarek.
Onwuzurike is set to race in the men’s 200m on Sunday and the mixed 4x100m relay. He will face challengers like Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo and Bednarek in the first semi-final.
Ezekiel Nathaniel, the African record-holder, will run in the men’s 400m hurdles on the final day.
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