Debutants Ofili, Akintola aim for good outing in Budapest 2023
Nigeria’s hopes for medals at the ongoing World Athletic Championships in Budapest, Hungary, continues with the participation of Favour Ofili and Alaba Akintola in the women’s and men’s 200m events respectively.
As the Championships entered its fifth day, Nigeria is yet to secure a medal, but the sprint events offer a glimmer of hope, particularly for Favour Ofili.
Ofili, who won a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, is making her first appearance at the World Championships representing Nigeria.
The 20-year-old will be competing in Lane 5 of the first heat. Her season’s best time of 22.11 seconds is not only the fastest in her category but also the fifth fastest overall in the women’s 200m event.
Her field includes Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, the newly crowned women’s 100m champion, as well as USA’s Sha’Carri Richardson, Gabrielle Thomas, and Julien Alfred.
In the men’s 200m event, Alaba Akintola will be running in Lane 6 of the seventh heat alongside USA’s Kenneth Bednarek.
READ ALSO: Serena Williams gives birth to second child
Akintola’s season’s best time of 20.43 seconds places him fifth among the eight participants in his heat as he aims to qualify for the semi-finals.
Among the notable names in the other heats are Botswana’s Lesile Tebogo, USA’s Noah Lyles, Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh, and Canada’s Andre De Grasse.
It is worth mentioning that Akintola was part of the men’s 4x100m relay quartet, along with Udodi Onwuzurike, Raymond Ekevwo, and Favour Ashe, that won a bronze medal for Nigeria at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.