False Start: Nigerian athletes stumble on Day One of World University Games

The opening day of athletics at the 2025 FISU World University Games in Bochum-Wattenscheid, Germany delivered a sobering reality for Nigeria’s track and field contingent, as all four athletes who competed failed to progress beyond the first round of their respective events.

At the Lohrheidestadion, a venue buzzing with global student-athlete energy, Nigeria’s sprint hopefuls were unable to match the pace of their international peers.

In the women’s 100m, Taofikat Morenikeji Sulaimon, a third-year Education student from Federal University Oye Ekiti, clocked 12.49 seconds, finishing seventh in her heat and 40th overall.

Her male counterpart, Precious Oluwakayode Aina, a fourth-year student from University of Ilorin, ran 11.17 seconds, placing fifth in his heat and 48th overall.

In the women’s 400m, Chioma Christabel Offor, a third-year Science student from Federal University of Technology Akure, finished sixth in her heat with a time of 59.81 seconds.

The men’s 400m brought further disappointment as Salim Zubairu Bello, an Engineering student from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, failed to finish his race, registering a DNF (Did Not Finish).

The early exits stand in stark contrast to Nigeria’s storied past at the World University Games. In 1983, Ajayi Agbebaku soared to triple jump gold in Edmonton, Canada, before clinching bronze at the inaugural World Athletics Championships in Helsinki.

That same year, legends like Yusuf Ali, Sunday Uti, Innocent Egbunike, and Chidi Imoh dominated the track and the field, with Egbunike and Ali reaching finals in the 200m and long jump respectively a few week later in Helsinki.

While this year’s start has been rocky, the Games continue through July 27, offering opportunities for redemption in other disciplines.

Nigeria’s delegation, backed by the National Sports Commission and NUGA, remains hopeful that other athletes will rise to the occasion.