Nine Nigerian athletes, 576 others chase glory in China

Nine Nigerian athletes will be on parade when the 20th World Athletics Indoor Championships begin in Nanjing, China, today. The championships, the biggest indoor athletics event of the year, will run till March 23.

An update from World Athletics, sent to The Guardian, on Wednesday, indicates that Nanjing 2025 will be an unforgettable championship as 11 defending champions and 20 Olympic medallists from Paris 2024 will compete at the championships. In all, a total of 576 athletes from 127 countries will battle at the event.

The Chief Executive Officer of Elite Athletes Development Board of National Sports Commission (NSC), Yusuf Ali, told The Guardian on Wednesday that the athletes would depart from their respective venues for China yesterday.

“Hopefully, all our athletes will leave their respective places on Thursday. As we speak, their flight tickets are being sorted out by the Secretary General of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). I am hopeful they will make Nigeria proud in China,” Ali stated.

Meanwhile, the Athletes Entry per event sent to The Guardian by World Athletes indicates that Success Umukoro will battle with top sprinters from across the globe in the 60m for women, while Prestina Oluchi Ochonogor is Nigeria’s sole competitor in the women’s long jump event.

In the men’s 400m event, Ezekiel Nathaniel is Nigeria’s sole candidate, while Chukwuebuka Enekwechi will battle others in the shot put for men.

Team Nigeria is one of the favourites in the 4x400m relay for men, which will feature Nathaniel Ezekiel, Ojeli Emmanuel, James Onwuka and Chidi Okezie.

Two officials, U.S.-based AFN board member and former silver medallist in 400m hurdler, Victor Okorie and Secretary General, Israel Inwang will accompany the team