Brume promises excellence as Team Nigeria begins quest in Budapest

Ese Brume

• Enekwechi, Usoro, Ashe, Ogunlewe, Itshekiri to open campaign tomorrow World Championships’ silver medallist, Ese Brume, arrived in Budapest, Hungary, on Wednesday, with a promise not to disappoint Nigerians in the 19th edition of the competition.

The Budapest 2023 World Championship will begin at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest tomorrow and Brume is one of the athletes scheduled to open Nigeria’s campaign for medals.

The Delta State-born long jumper is making her fourth straight appearance in the championships since her debut in London in 2017.

Speaking with The Guardian from Istanbul, Turkey, while waiting to connect a flight to Budapest, Brume said: “I am going to the championships to give my best. I won’t disappoint Nigerians, and I pray that God should give me the strength to achieve my goal in Budapest.”

At the last edition of the championship in Oregon, United States, Brume captured a silver medal to make it double celebration for Team Nigeria after Tobi Amusan had set a new World Record and took a gold medal in the 100m hurdles.

The silver medal at Oregon made Brume the first Nigerian to win in two straight World Championships’ medals, after grabbing a bronze medal at Qatar 2019.

With Nigerians still waiting for Amusan’s clearance by the Athletes Integrity Unit (AIU) to enable her to compete in the Championships, Brume remains Nigeria’s best bet for a podium appearance.

The African long jump record holder, with a Personal Best of 7.17m, has been battling to regain full fitness after an indifferent outdoor campaign leading to the Championships.

If Brume rises to the occasion like she did in the past and strikes gold, she will become the first Nigerian track and field star to win in all three categories