Athletics / Sports

Nigeria grabs first gold medal at World U20 Championship, sets new record

• Godson Brume, Praise Ofoku in 100m final
Team Nigeria became the center of attraction at the Kasarani Stadium, venue of the ongoing World U20 Championship in Nairobi yesterday, as the country’s 4x400m mixed relay team grabbed the first gold medal at the event. They also set Championship record twice.

After Nnamani Johnson, Opeyemi Oke, Ajayi Bamidele and Imaobong Nse Uko dazzled the spectators with a new record of 3:21.66 on their way to the final, the athletes increased their pace in the final race to shock the entire crowd with their spectacular display of talent, which earned Team Nigeria, the gold medal with another Championship record of 3; 19.70. The first time in a long while, Nigeria’s flag was held by the athletes running round the entire stadium with cheers from the spectators.

In the women’s 100m semifinal event, Praise Ofoku gave the spectators a tip of what to expect in today’s final as she powered past all contestants to anchor at a time of 11.57 seconds. She came from behind to win the ticket to the final.

Nigeria’s hope of having two women runners in today’s 100m final was aborted when God bless Tima ran a slow race of 11.61 second to finish in the 8th position.

Tima had earlier in the day run 11.59sec to raise the hope of Nigerians.

One of Nigeria’s best male junior sprinters, Godson Brume lived up to the expectations of the people yesterday, as he raced to the men’s 100m final in 10.24 seconds.

Brume, who is the younger brother of Tokyo Olympics medalist Ese Brume, had run 10.35 second earlier in the day to win the heat.

Team Nigeria now has two contestants in today’s 100m event, one each in male and female categories.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa was full of praises for the athletes and their coaches. He stated that the gold medal was a good beginning for the current AFN board.

Also, former AFN President Solomon Ogba commended the …

Athletics / Olympics / Sports

Nigerian gold medalists to receive $15,000

The Federal Government has announced a reward of $15,000, $10,000, $7,500 respectively for gold, silver, and bronze medalists at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics.

This was disclosed by Simon Ebohdjaiye, who is the Director, Federation and Elite Athletes Department (FEAD), Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

Ebohdjaiye stated this while speaking on Tuesday in Tokyo, shortly after wrestler Blessing Oborodudu won Team Nigeria’s second medal at the Games.

He said the reward was reviewed, due to the dedication of the athletes.

“Gold medallist will now be rewarded with 15,000 dollars, while silver and bronze medal winners will each get 10,000 dollars and 7,500 dollars respectively.

“The earlier award is 5,000 dollars for gold, 3,000 dollars for silver, and 2,000 dollars for bronze,” he said.

Oborodudu is the first Nigerian wrestler to win an Olympic medal, claiming silver in the women’s 68kg freestyle.

Earlier on, Ese Brume, who won the country’s first medal at the Games with a bronze in long jump.…

Athletics / Sports

Ese Brume erases Chioma Ajunwa’s 25-year-old long jump record

Jumps 7.17m to set world lead record

Twenty-five years after long jumper, Chioma Ajunwa, conquered the world by winning a gold medal at Atlanta ‘96 Olympics, another Nigerian, Ese Brume, has made big headlines in that country, this time in the city of California.

Brume, who was Nigeria’s only athlete to reach the final of any event at the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil, jumped a distance of 7.17m on Saturday at Chile Vista Festival in California to become the first African woman to ever make such a mark. She shattered Ajunwa’s 25-year-old Long Jump record of 7.12m in the process. Brume’s jump was also a World Lead.

“I am so glad for this achievement,” Brume told The Guardian on phone from California in the early hours of yesterday.

Jumping six times, Brume saved the best for the last, leaping that mark on her very last attempt after jumping 6.83m (three times) and 6.88m once.

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