Nigerian athletes are absent from the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships due to visa issues, impacting their ten-member contingent. Key athletes like Ezekiel Nathaniel and Success Umukoro are missing from the event schedules. Meanwhile, Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu won gold in the men’s 60m final, completing the first day’s activities.
The 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships commenced in Nanjing, China, on Friday, but Nigerian athletes were notably absent from the competition’s participant lists. Visa complications affected the ten-member Nigerian delegation, preventing their participation from the outset as their names were missing from the event schedules.
The absence of Nigeria’s new African record holder in the 400m, Ezekiel Nathaniel, was particularly striking as he was not listed among the competitors in the men’s 400m heats. Additionally, the only female athlete from Nigeria for the women’s 60m, Success Umukoro, was similarly unlisted for her event, scheduled for today.
Prior to the event, World Athletics had announced the inclusion of ten Nigerian athletes competing in six events, which included the women’s 60m, high jump, long jump, men’s 400m, shot put, and the men’s 4x400m relay. The contingent featured notable athletes such as shot put specialist Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and the aforementioned Nathaniel, among others.
In the lead-up to the event, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) had made urgent attempts to facilitate the travel of its athletes to China, initially contemplating a withdrawal due to the busy NCAA schedule of many of its competitors. As the championship progresses, spectators await confirmation on whether Enekwechi will participate in the men’s shot put and the 4x400m relay on the last day.
Meanwhile, the competition witnessed Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu securing the gold in a thrilling men’s 60m final, clocking a personal best of 6.49 seconds. A dramatic turn of events occurred when Eloy Benitez of Puerto Rico fell during the race, and USA’s Ronnie Baker withdrew just before the finish, allowing Azu to clinch victory. Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy earned silver, and South Africa’s Akani Simbine received bronze, marking his first major individual medal after previously finishing in fourth and fifth place.
The absence of Nigerian athletes from the World Athletics Indoor Championships due to visa issues has overshadowed Nigeria’s participation. Despite the challenges, there remains hope for Chukwuebuka Enekwechi’s potential involvement in the latter events. The inaugural day highlighted other thrilling performances, particularly Jeremiah Azu’s gold medal in the men’s 60m, showcasing the excitement of the championship despite Nigeria’s setback.
Original Source: punchng.com
