Godbless, Ajayi swell number of Nigerians who have punched World Championships ticket to eight
Following Tima Godbless’ 22.55 run in the 200m and Kanyinsola Ajayi’s incredible 9.96 performance at the Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville, Florida at the weekend, the number of Nigerian athletes who have booked their tickets to the 20th World Athletics Championships this September in Tokyo, Japan to eight.
Nigeria will be seeking to rewrite the no medal record to Japan on her third visit after fruitless journey to Tokyo in 1991 and Osaka in 2007.
Some of the athletes Nigeria will be banking on have already punched their tickets almost a year ago when the qualification window opened while a few others having their breakout season are raising hopes, either in their individual event or the relays.
Top on the list of these athletes is World 100m hurdles record holder, Tobi Amusan who will be aiming to reclaim the World title she lost in 2023.
Amusan secured her ticket to her first trip to Tokyo at the Olympics in Paris, France last year and was joined by Favour Ofili who made it to the final of the 200m, Ella Onojuvwevwo who has been tipped as the successor to Falilat Ogunkoya.
The duo of Ese Brume and Ashley Anumba punched their tickets before the Olympics after emerging area champions following their victory at the African Championships in Cameroon last July.
For the men, Samuel Ogazi and Ezekiel Nathaniel sealed their ticket in the 400m and 400m hurdles respectively at the Paris 2024 Olympics while the latter added the 400m ticket last month after his incredible 44.74 Nigeria and African indoor record run.
Ajayi is the third man to seal his trip to Tokyo following his first sub-10 seconds run in the blue ribband event.
There are also a few athletes whose world ranking points could see them on board the flight to Tokyo if they fail to secure the automatic entry slot.
Long jumper, Prestina Ochonogor and Shot putter, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi look sure bet to feature in World Athletics’ flagship event.
While it will not be the first time for Enekwechi who made it to the final of the Shot Put last year at the Olympics, Ochonogor would be keen to follow up her trip to the Olympics with another trip to the Worlds.
