Visa issues have severely impacted Team Nigeria’s participation in the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships, reducing the number of registered athletes from ten to five. Efforts were made by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to facilitate participation, but delays in visa processing hindered many. The championship will feature a strong field of competitors from 127 countries.
Nigeria’s participation in the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China is significantly affected by visa complications, leading to a reduction in the number of athletes registered by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. Originally, ten athletes were named to represent the country, but this number has dwindled to five as of March 23, the start of the event.
The initial ten Nigerian athletes included notable competitors such as Chukwuebuka Enekwechi in shot put, Ezekiel Nathaniel, who recently set an African record in the 400m indoor, as well as Chidi Okezie, Temitope Adeshina, and Prestina Ochonogor, a finalist in the Paris Olympics. The lineup also featured several other athletes across various events including Ediddiong Udo and James Onwuka.
The reduced roster comprised eight male and two female competitors, with events covering women’s 60m, high jump, long jump, 400m, shot put, and the men’s 4x400m relay. While some athletes have successfully arrived in China, others faced challenges due to delays in visa processing which impeded their participation.
Despite initial concerns regarding participation given the overlap with busy NCAA schedules, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria made significant efforts to ensure athletes could compete. An unnamed athlete revealed that the federation requested passports for visa applications several weeks prior, leading to complications with the timing of submissions and approvals.
The World Athletics Indoor Championships will feature 576 athletes from 127 nations, consisting of 264 women and 312 men. Notable defending champions include world record holders such as Mondo Duplantis and Grant Holloway, as well as Olympic titleholders who triumphed in Paris last year. Among the key local competitors to watch are China’s Olympic shot put champion Gong Lijiao and Zhu Yaming, a two-time global medalist in triple jump.
In conclusion, Team Nigeria’s ability to participate in the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships has been compromised due to visa issues, reducing the team from ten athletes to five. Efforts by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria were made to navigate these challenges, yet delays impacted many athletes. The championship promises to showcase numerous prominent athletes from around the globe, underscoring the competitive environment Nigeria has had to contend with despite its limitations.
Original Source: punchng.com
