Tag: Amusan

Opeyori emerges General Team Captain

Nigerian sprint hurdler, Tobi Amusan, has been named as Nigeria’s flag bearer for Friday’s opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

This implies that Amusan becomes the first athlete from the athletics team to hold this honour in 20 years, following in the footsteps of Mary Onyali who was the flag bearer at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

Amusan is the current world record holder in the 100 metres hurdles with a time of 12.12 seconds which she set at the 2022 women’s 100 metres hurdles semi-final in Eugene Oregon. She is the current Commonwealth and African champion in the 100m hurdles, as well as the meet record holder in those two competitions. She became the first ever Nigerian world champion and world record holder in an athletics event when she won the 2022 World Championships 100 m hurdles gold medal, setting the current world record of 12.12 seconds (+0.9 m/s) in the semi-final, followed up by a 12.06 seconds (+2.5 m/s) in the final. 

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) has announced badminton player, Anuoluwapo Opeyori, as the General Team Captain for Nigeria in Paris.

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Opeyori won the African Championships and African Games in the singles event in 2019. He also won gold in the men’s single at the 2023 African Games, and a silver medal in the men’s single at Accra 2023. He was in Tokyo 2020 to compete at the Summer Olympics for the first time.

Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, congratulated both athletes on their appointments, stating: “Tobi Amusan and Anuoluwapo Opeyori have shown exceptional dedication and commitment to their sports. Their leadership will be invaluable to Team Nigeria as we aim for success at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”

Senator Enoh further elaborated on the significance of these appointments, saying: “Having Tobi Amusan as our flag bearer is a testament to her hard work, resilience, and outstanding achievements in athletics. Her journey is an inspiration to many young Nigerians. Similarly, Anuoluwapo Opeyori’s role as General Team Captain reflects his leadership qualities and the respect he commands among his peers. We believe their roles will galvanize our team and foster a spirit of unity and determination.”

Sports Minister John Enoh has expressed immense joy and relief on behalf of all sports-loving Nigerians following the clearance of Tobi Amusan by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Senator stated that the ruling comes as a significant boost to Nigeria’s hopes for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.

“To see Oluwatobiloba Amusan cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) gives all sports-loving Nigerians immense joy,” stated Senator Enoh. “We anticipate a sound representation at the Paris Olympics 2024. Tobi has consistently shown her commitment and passion on the track, and this news is incredibly exciting for all of Team Nigeria.”

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“We are thrilled for Tobi and confident in her ability to make Nigeria proud at the Paris Olympics,” added Senator Enoh.

“This ruling reinforces our belief in her integrity and dedication. We look forward to witnessing her outstanding performance on the global stage.”

President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa has expressed  joy at the recovery of  World Record Holder in women’s 100m hurdles, Tobiloba Amusan, after she Inspired Team Nigeria to 4x100m Relay Gold at the 23rd African Senior Athletics championships in  Japoma stadium, Douala, Cameroon. 

Amusan was in her best elements as she ‘handed Nigeria her fourth gold medal, anchoring a race that had the quartet of Justina Eyakpobeyan, Tima Godbless and Olayinka Olajide.

Amusan missed her 100m hurdles event due to illness.

Speaking shortly after the event, Okowa said; “I was really worried on my arrival in Douala, and saw the condition of Amusan. I was at the airport when I heard the news. From the airport, I rushed down to the athletes hotel to see her. Then, she was really down, and I prayed to God to come to our rescue because the children are under my custody. I am happy God answered our prayer.”

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Okowa continued:  “I was so excited seeing Tobi fly on the track to give us gold. This can only come from an athlete, who is dedicated and loyal to her country. I salute her courage and sense of humour. I praise all the athletes and officials, who have contributed to our success story here in Douala. Our next bus stop will be in Paris for the Olympics Games, and I am optimistic that our athletes will give a good account of themselves.”

Recall that Amusan arrived in Douala on Thursday morning alongside other members of the Nigerian contingent with no sign of illness. But she fell ill in the night, and Sports Ministry’s medical personnel attached to the AFN team to Douala advised her to take a rest.

She took part in the 4x100m relay final because AFN Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku tendered a medical report on her, unlike the duo of Favour Ofili and Rosemary Chukwuma who pulled out from the 100m semifinal without the knowledge of the technical committee.

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has congratulated the World record holder, Tobi Amusan, for emerging as the fastest woman in the women’s 100m hurdles event at the Jamaican invitational  , saying she has made Ogun State and Nigeria proud.

Amusan achieved this feat this year after running a blistering 12.40s to win the first Jamaica Athletics Invitational in Kingston.

She won the race ahead of Jamaican and World Champion, Danielle Williams.

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Abiodun, in a congratulatory message, described Amusan as a woman of strong will and character, adding that the athlete has made Ogun State and Nigeria proud for her exceptional talent and skill.

“On behalf of the government and the good people of Ogun State, I heartily congratulate our illustrious daughter, Tobi Amusan, as she emerged as the fastest woman in the women’s 100m hurdles for the year 2024, after running a blistering 12.40s to win the  first Jamaica Athletics Invitational in Kingston.

“Winning the race  ahead of Jamaican and world champion, Danielle Williams clearly x-rayed her tenacious tendency and strong will for optimal performance.

“We are indeed proud of her as a worthy  ambassador and priceless export from  our dear State,” the governor averred.

Oghenebrume thro’ to Paris 2024

Nigeria’s 100m hurdles star, Oluwatobiloba Amusan made the headlines yesterday at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational clocking a time of 12.40s (0.9), a World Lead time to storm to an emphatic win in the women’s 100mH.

She defeated World Champion Danielle Williams of Jamaica who came second in 12.46s, while Christina Clemons of the United States was third in 12.54s.

In perfect +0.9m/s conditions in Kingston, the 26-year-old Nigerian star stormed to an emphatic victory over a top-class field.

Her blazing world lead time of 12.40 seconds saw Amusan blow away the opposition, with current World Champion Danielle Williams of Jamaica settling for second in 12.46s.

American Christina Clemons took third in 12.54s as Amusan reasserted her dominance on the global stage.

Amusan has been in scintillating form so far in 2024, having opened her campaign with an African record of 12.58s in Doha last month.

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In a related development, Godson Oghenebrume is  the latest Nigerian to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics after retaining his 100m title at the SEC Championships with a commanding time of 9.99s in Gainesville, Florida, in the early hours of yesterday.

‘Brume’ gave a glimpse of what he was about to do after clocking the overall fastest time in the heats in a Season’s Best (SB) of 10.05s.

The following day, just barely 90 minutes after anchoring his team to their 7th 4x100m title in the last eight editions of the SEC Championships with a time of 38.19s, he ran an SB of 9.99s to retain his title ahead of Wanya McCoy (10.02s) and T’Mars McCallum (10.03s).

Compatriot Kayinsola Ajayi was 7^th  in a PB of 10.09s while Favour Ashe Did Not Start (DNS), although he ran 10.13s in the heats.

Brume now joins Ashe as the second Nigerian male sprinter to have qualified in the 100m for the forthcoming Olympics.

Meanwhile, Nigerian athletes Rosemary Chukwuma and Temitope Adeshina earned huge points for Texas Tech over the weekend as the pair won the women’s 100m and High Jump titles respectively at the Big-12 Championships in Waco, Texas.

Chukwuma clocked a Season’s Best (SB) of 11.12s to earn her maiden Big-12 Outdoor 100m title, which backed up the Big-12 60m title she claimed during the indoor season, making it her first 60m/100m sweep in the Big-12 Championships in the same season.

Iyana Gray placed 2nd with a time of 11.24s while Kevona Davis returned a time of 11.32s to take 3rd.

Adeshina, who is having a sensational freshman year, scaled a height of 1.90m on her last attempt to also achieve a Big-12 sweep both indoors and outdoors. Her jump of 1.90m is an outdoor SB, eclipsing the 1.88m she registered at the Corky Shootout two weeks ago.

Cierra Allphin was 2nd in 1.83m while Saara Hakanen and Claire Lowrey tied for third with a mark of 1.80m.

Tobi Amusan has defended her  false start en route to  her success  in the final of the women’s 100m hurdle event at the ongoing 13^th  African Games.

Amusan said she got momentarily distracted by the thousands of fans chanting her name at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium but added that she recovered quickly to win the race and still returned to the tracks to help Team Nigeria win gold in the 4×100m race.

“The truth is that I got a little bit distracted by fans chanting and screaming my name but I didn’t allow the pressure to get into my head. I just had to focus on running a good race,” she said.

The world’s record holder also expressed her delight at winning her third gold medal in a row for Team Nigeria at the African Games.

“This is my third gold medal for Nigeria at the African Games and I feel great.”

She also faulted the opinion in some quarters that she should have skipped the African Games like other highly rated athletes did, adding that it’s an honour to compete at the 13^th  African Games in Accra, Ghana.

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“This is a national assignment and I see no reason why I shouldn’t be here. I run for a living. I don’t know why people expect me to choose the competitions that I need to compete at.” She stated.

“I compete when it’s time to compete, so nothing like, it’s the African Game why am I here. I’m representing myself, Africa and Nigeria as a whole.” She added.

Amusan who was the favourite to win the race beat the gun after going into the blocks for the first time due to the noise from the crowd in the stadium.

She got a yellow card, lined up again and when the gun went off for the second time, she made the race her own from start to finish, clocking a time of 12.89 second.

With that feat, she completed a hat-trick of African Games titles, having won the last two editions in Congo Brazzaville in 2015 and Rabat in 2019.