Amusan, Ajayi May Open 2027 Diamond League Campaign in Shanghai
Tobi Amusan and Kanyinsola Ajayi could open their 2027 Wanda Diamond League campaigns in Shanghai, China, following the release of the discipline allocation for next year’s series.
The allocation, published on Monday, outlines the events that will count towards Diamond League points at each meeting on the road to the final in Zurich on August 25 and 26.
The women’s 100m hurdles and men’s 100m will not be Diamond League scoring events at the season-opening meeting in Doha, Qatar, on May 7.
Both disciplines are, however, scheduled for the second meeting in Shanghai/Keqiao on May 15, potentially giving Amusan and Ajayi their first opportunities to compete for Diamond League points in 2027.
The two events could still feature in Doha as non-scoring competitions, but their absence from the Diamond League discipline allocation means results there would not count towards qualification for the series final.
Amusan, Nigeria’s former world-record holder and former world champion in the women’s 100m hurdles, could therefore begin her campaign in China as she prepares for another season on the international circuit.
Ajayi, one of Nigeria’s leading sprint talents, could also start his Diamond League season in Shanghai, where the men’s 100m is among the scheduled scoring disciplines.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel Ezekiel may have to wait until the third meeting of the series in Xiamen, China, on May 22, to make his 2027 Diamond League debut.
The men’s 400m hurdles is not included among the scoring disciplines in either Doha or Shanghai but is scheduled for Xiamen, meaning the Nigerian hurdler’s first opportunity to collect Diamond League points could come three weeks after the season opener.
Ezekiel will be seeking to establish himself on the circuit as he builds towards the major championships of 2027, including the World Athletics Championships in Beijing in September.
Favour Ofili and Ella Onojuvwevwo, meanwhile, could have the opportunity to begin their Diamond League campaigns at the opening meeting in Doha.
The women’s 100m and 400m are both included in the May 7 programme in Qatar, potentially providing opportunities for Ofili and Onojuvwevwo to compete for points from the first meeting of the season. The men’s shot put is also among the scheduled disciplines in Doha.
Samuel Ogazi could make his Diamond League debut in Shanghai, where the men’s 400m is scheduled as a scoring event. The Nigerian quarter-miler would thus have an opportunity to join the series when it moves to China for its second stop on May 15.
The 2027 Diamond League season will feature 15 meetings across four continents, beginning in Doha on May 7 before moving to Shanghai/Keqiao on May 15 and Xiamen on May 22. The series will conclude with the two-day final in Zurich on August 25 and 26.
The allocation gives Nigerian athletes a clearer picture of when their specialist events will feature on the circuit, although their actual participation will depend on entries and competition plans.
