World Athletics Championships: Teenage sensation Ofili aims high in Doha

Favour Ofili will be making her debut at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, but the teenager sensation is not giving up on her dream of making it to Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.

Ofili, whose best time is 51.63secs is aiming to beat the 51.3secs Olympics standard when she gets to Doha.

“Whenever I am running I care less about my physic as what I am aiming is just to finish my race. I am only focusing on my lane and to run as fast as possible to beat others. physical attribute does not win the race but how fast you can run is what matters,” she said.

In Doha, Ofilli is however not aiming to mount the podium but her eyes are fixed on meeting the Olympic Games standard. “I am excited about making it to my first World Championships. When I started running I was doing 100 and 200m but in 2017 at the National Youth Games in Ilorin, I lost in the 100m and came second in the 200m, my parent was disappointed and warned me to face my studies. But when I got admission to UNIPORT, I saw some athletes training and I decided to see what they are doing. It was there Coach George Obiano told me that to start doing 400m which I am doing now,” Ofili said.

“African Games was my first senior tournament and I am looking forward to giving my best in Doha with my focus on meeting the Olympic Games standard of 51.3secs to qualify for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. It is this that will spur me on in Doha,” she added.

Read Also: Doha 2019: IAAF tips Ese Brume to excel in Doha

In Doha, more than 2000 of the world’s top athletes will be competing for the 192 medals on offer across 49 finals during the 10-day Championships, kicks off on Friday, September 27 to October 6 at the iconic Khalifa International Stadium.