Nigerian athletes are missing from the World Athletics Indoor Championship due to visa issues, impacting their participation. Notable athletes Ezekiel Nathaniel and Success Umukoro were not listed to compete. Amidst these challenges, Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu won gold in the men’s 60m final on the event’s first day.
The 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championship commenced in Nanjing, China, but Nigerian athletes were noticeably absent from the competition. Visa complications significantly impacted Nigeria’s 10-member contingent, resulting in athletes’ names missing from event schedules, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
As of the first day, renowned 400m indoor record holder Ezekiel Nathaniel and sole female entrant in the women’s 60m, Success Umukoro, were among those not listed to compete. Earlier this week, World Athletics had released a list of 10 Nigerian participants scheduled to compete across six events.
The Nigerian team aimed to compete in events such as the women’s 60m, high jump, long jump, men’s 400m, shot put, and 4x400m relay. Notable athletes included shot putter Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and Nathaniel, along with others like Chidi Okezie and Prestina Ochonogor. Despite visa challenges, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) made efforts to facilitate their participation.
As the championship progresses, there remains hope that Enekwechi, who is reportedly in China, will participate in the men’s shot put and the men’s 4x400m relay. In a notable performance from day one, Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu clinched gold in the men’s 60m final, achieving a personal best of 6.49 seconds amidst a dramatic race.
The opening day culminated in excitement as Azu triumphed, with Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy and South Africa’s Akani Simbine also securing silver and bronze, respectively. Simbine achieved his first global individual medal after previous close finishes in international competitions.
The absence of Nigerian athletes at the World Athletics Indoor Championships due to visa issues is a significant setback for the nation’s representation. Despite previous announcements of participation, many athletes were unable to compete, highlighting the challenges faced by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. Meanwhile, the event featured notable performances, including a dramatic win by Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu in the men’s 60m final.
Original Source: punchng.com
