Kayinsola Ajayi clocked 9.90 seconds to win bronze in the men’s 100m and end Nigeria’s 20-year medal drought in the event at the Commonwealth Games, www.aclsports.com reports.
Ajayi became the first Nigerian man to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the men’s 100m since Olusoji Fasuba claimed silver at the 2006 Games in Melbourne. He got off to a strong start in the final before holding on to claim bronze, while Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme surged to gold in a Games record time of 9.83 seconds. Ajayi had booked his place in the final by winning his semifinal in 9.93 seconds.
Another podium finish arrived through Temitope Adeshina, whose clearance of 1.90m earned her the bronze medal in the women’s high jump. It marked a memorable turnaround for the Nigerian, who finished 10th on her Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham 2022.
The women’s 400m also brought encouraging results as Patience Okon-George and Esther Elo Joseph safely negotiated the opening round. Okon-George finished fourth in her heat in 53.27 seconds to qualify automatically, while Joseph’s third-place finish in 52.82 seconds secured her first Commonwealth Games semifinal appearance over the distance. Their progression means Nigeria will have three athletes in the women’s semifinals, with Ella Onojuvwevwo also advancing.
Edidiong Udo also impressed on his international debut for Nigeria, winning his men’s 400m heat in 45.73 seconds to qualify for the semifinals alongside Samuel Ogazi.
Nigeria’s representation in the swimming events also doubled after Abduljabar Adama and Colins Ebingha advanced from the men’s 50m butterfly heats. Adama progressed after finishing fourth in 23.99 seconds, while Ebingha also qualified after placing fifth in 24.01 seconds.
Favour Ashe and Nicholas Fakorede missed out on places in the men’s 100m final after finishing fifth and fourth respectively in their semifinal races. In the women’s event, Miracle Ezechukwu also fell short of qualification, while Rosemary Chukwuma suffered an injury during her race and Blessing Ogundiran was unable to compete in her semifinal.
Ruth Imoleayo Ayodele finished seventh in the women’s 63kg weightlifting event with a total lift of 193kg, while Patricia Mbata exited the women’s 75kg boxing competition after a narrow split-decision defeat to England’s Mary Kate Smith in the quarterfinals.
Nigeria ended the day fifth on the medal table with 12 medals comprising six gold, four silver and two bronze.
