Tobi Amusan’s chances of competing at the Budapest 2023 World Championships in Hungary still hangs in the balance as the world athletics ruling body yesterday released entries for the event.
Though listed in the 26-man contingent by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Amusan’s name for the women’s 100m hurdles was tagged with ‘Pending AIU Process’.
Tobi Amusan was recently provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for missing three Out of Competition Tests (OCT) while her case will be decided by the Disciplinary Tribunal before the kick-off of the World Championships next week.
Nigeria is expected to compete in 11 events with Itshekiri Usheoritshe leading the men’s sprint team that includes Ashe Favour, Seye Ogunlewe, Alaba Akintola, Fakorede Adekalu and Karlington Anunagba. The men’s sprint team is expected to compete in the 100m and 4X100m relay race.
Akintola is the sole representative in the 200m, while Dubem Nwachukwu (400m), and Nathaniel Ezekiel (400m hurdles) made the cut. The 4x400m mixed relay team has Chidi Okezie, Samuel Ogazi, Nwachuckwu and Ezekiel while Enekwechi Chukwuebuka (discus) completed the men’s list.
The women’s team has Chukwuma Rosemary, Ofili Favour, Eyakpobeyan Justina, Okwose Faith and Umukoro Success competing in the 100m and 4x100m events.
Ofili and Uko Imaobong Nse will compete in the 200m and 400m events, while George Patience Okon, Nse, Oke Opeyemi Deborah and Onojuvwevwo Ella will represent Nigeria in the 4X400m relay race.
For the 4x400m mixed relay, Okon, Nse and Ella will team up with their male counterparts in the event.
Ese Brume and Ruth Usoro will compete in the long jump event, Amaechi Obiageri Pamela, Anumba Ashley and Onyekwere Chioma will jostle for medals in the discus event while Olatoye Oyesade will compete in the hammer event.
Of the 44 individual winners from the 2022 edition in Oregon, 38 are entered to defend their titles in Budapest, with Peru’s double champion Kimberly Garcia set to contest both in the 20km and 35km race walk events.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce seeks a record-extending sixth world 100m title after she led a Jamaican sweep of the medals last year, winning in a championship record of 10.67. Pawel Fajdek also has the chance to secure a sixth gold medal, having won the past five consecutive world hammer titles.
Ryan Crouser (shot put), Mondo Duplantis (pole vault), Faith Kipgeyon (1500m) and Yulimar Rojas (triple jump) are among the world record-holders who return, targeting back-to-back world title triumphs.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
