Team Nigeria will compete in six events on Friday (today) when the Paris 2024 Olympic Games’ athletics program gets underway, according to The PUNCH.
Nigeria’s hopes for medals at the Games have been heavily linked to the track and field events, and all eyes will be on high jumper Temitope Adeshina, women’s discus trio Ashely Anumba, Chioma Onyekwere, and Obiageri Amaechi, shot put thrower Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, and the mixed 4x400m relay team, who will compete in the first round of their respective events at the Stade de France.
Adeshina, an indoor and outdoor national record holder and three-time national champion, will leave at 9:15 a.m. for a chance to compete in the women’s high jump final.
With a personal best of 1.97 m, which is also the final qualification criteria, the 25-year-old is in Group B of the qualification event, among 31 other jumpers.
She will be guaranteed a spot in the final if she achieves the same mark as she did in Paris or if she finishes among the top 12 in the qualifying.
There will be more action in the evening session, commencing with one-time African champion Anumba as well as the Commonwealth Games, and two-time African champion Onyekwere and reigning African Games champion Amaechi will also compete in the women’s discus throw.
Ahead of her Olympic debut, the 25-year-old Amaechi described her participation as a dream come true, since Nigeria would send three competitors to the Games for the first time.
“Being here alone is a dream come true, and being able to be part of this historic three is even sweeter than just coming here alone because we have all been working hard,” Amaechi told CNN’s Making of Champions.
“All I can ask for is to try my best; you never know what God has in store for me, so I’m willing to go along with his plans. I want to do my best; hopefully, it means making it to the finals. I’m just here to put what I’ve been working on into practice, and I hope it shows in the numbers later.”
In addition to the women’s discus, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, a two-time African Championship and African Games winner, will battle for a position in the men’s shot put final.
“All I can ask for is to try my best; you never know what God has in store for me, so I’m willing to go along with his plans. I want to do my best; hopefully, it means making it to the finals. I’m just here to put what I’ve been working on into practice, and I hope it shows in the numbers later.”
In addition to the women’s discus, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, a two-time African Championship and African Games winner, will battle for a position in the men’s shot put final.