By Tayo Ogunseye
Hurdles Queen Tobi Amusan led Nigeria’s charge at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungary, winning silver in the women’s 100m hurdles as the National Sports Commission (NSC) intensified efforts to position the country as a major destination for international athletics events.
Amusan delivered a strong performance in the final, clocking 12.34 seconds to finish second behind American Masai Russell, who won the title in 12.22 seconds. Netherlands’ Nadine Visser took the bronze medal in 12.39 seconds.
The former world record holder had earlier secured her place in the final after finishing second in her semifinal in 12.49 seconds, narrowly behind Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton, who won the heat in 12.45 seconds. Her silver medal gave Team Nigeria its first medal of the championships.
While Nigeria celebrated Amusan’s podium finish, National Sports Commission Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, used the occasion in Budapest to engage World Athletics officials over Nigeria’s interest in hosting the 2030 World Athletics U20 Championships.
Olopade reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to provide the facilities, organisation and hospitality required to stage a world-class championship, stressing that the country’s growing investment in sports infrastructure, athlete development and event management had strengthened its position to take on greater responsibilities on the international stage.
The NSC DG also pointed to Nigeria’s successful hosting of the 2025 CAA Africa U20/U18 Athletics Championships in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as evidence of the country’s capacity to deliver major international athletics events. Nigeria stepped in at short notice to host the continental championship, which attracted delegations from more than 40 African countries and close to 1,000 athletes, officials and other participants.
Olopade said the successful Abeokuta championships demonstrated Nigeria’s hospitality, organisational capacity and passion for athletics, providing a solid foundation for the country’s ambition to host the World Athletics U20 Championships in 2030. The Budapest engagement is also part of the NSC’s broader strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s relationship with international sports governing bodies and attract major global sporting events to the country.
Meanwhile, Ella Onojuvwevwo finished sixth in the first semifinal of the women’s 400m after recording 50.50 seconds, placing 12th overall among the 16 athletes in the event. Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino won the semifinal in 49.58 seconds, ahead of Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, who ran 49.67 seconds.
Nigeria’s campaign continues on Day 2, with Ezekiel Nathaniel set to compete in the second semifinal of the men’s 400m hurdles, while Kayinsola Ajayi will line up in the men’s 100m semifinals as Team Nigeria seeks to build on Amusan’s opening-day silver medal.
