Chukwuebuka Enekwechi finished fifth in the shot put at the 2025 World Indoor Championships, achieving a season’s best throw of 21.25 meters. He was the only Nigerian athlete present after visa issues prevented nine others from competing. Tom Walsh of New Zealand won the event, with Enekwechi narrowly missing a podium finish.
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi represented Nigeria at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, achieving a commendable fifth place in the shot put. He delivered a season’s best throw of 21.25 meters, marking his top finish in an international competition. Despite this impressive performance, Enekwechi fell short of a podium position, finishing just centimeters away from the third place.
The shot put event saw New Zealand’s Tom Walsh winning the gold medal, reclaiming his world indoor title with a throw of 21.65 meters. He was followed by American athletes Roger Steen and Adrian Piperi, who secured second and third positions with throws of 21.62 meters and 21.48 meters, respectively.
Enekwechi was the sole Nigerian athlete competing at this championship, as nine others faced visa and travel complications that resulted in their exclusion from the event. This issue arose after the Athletics Federation of Nigeria failed to secure the necessary visas and tickets in time for the athletes.
Chidi Okezie, a prominent Nigerian athlete and African Games gold medallist, expressed discontent with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria for not allowing his entry into the individual 400-meter event at the championships, stating that he only discovered his registration for the relays at the airport. Additionally, there were attempts by the AFN to rectify the situation before the championship, prompted by concerns regarding the busy schedules of several Nigerian athletes in the NCAA.
In summary, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi’s fifth-place finish at the World Indoor Championships signifies a notable performance, despite Nigeria’s reduced representation due to visa issues. The success of Enekwechi contrasts with the difficulties encountered by other Nigerian athletes, highlighting significant organizational challenges within the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. Moving forward, enhancing administrative efficiency for athlete participation in international events will be paramount for Nigeria’s athletic future.
Original Source: punchng.com
