Team Nigeria is set to participate in six athletics events on Friday as the track and field competition of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games begins, according to The PUNCH.
Nigeria’s medal hopes are focused on the track and field events, with significant attention on high jumper Temitope Adeshina, the women’s discus trio of Ashely Anumba, Chioma Onyekwere, and Obiageri Amaechi, shot put thrower Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, and the mixed 4x400m relay team.
All will compete in the preliminary rounds at Stade de France.
Adeshina, a three-time national champion and indoor and outdoor record holder making her Olympic debut, will enter the women’s high jump qualification at 9:15 am. With a personal best of 1.97 meters, Adeshina is in Group B alongside 31 other jumpers.
To advance to the final, she needs to match her qualification mark or be among the top 12 performers.
In the evening, Anumba, a former African champion, and Onyekwere, a two-time African champion, will join Amaechi, the reigning African Games champion, in the women’s discus throw.
Amaechi, excited for her Olympics debut, expressed her joy about being part of Nigeria’s first-ever trio in the event.
“Being here alone is a dream come true, and being part of this historic three is even sweeter,” Amaechi said via Making of Champions. “All I can ask for is to do my best; you don’t know what God has in stock, so I’m willing to accept his plans for me.”
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, a two-time African Championships and African Games winner, will compete for a place in the men’s shot put final.
On the track, the mixed 4x400m relay team will run in Heat 2, facing strong competitors including Great Britain, the Netherlands, Ireland, the Dominican Republic, and Italy.
This is Nigeria’s second appearance in the mixed relay event, having made its debut at Tokyo 2020.
Only the top three teams from each heat will secure automatic spots in Saturday’s final.
