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Amusan, Brume, Women’s 4x100m Quartet Cap Best Outing for Nigeria
As curtain falls on the 22nd Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom today, Team Nigeria recorded her best outing in the quadrennial competition which effectively ended Sunday night.
Nigeria claimed a total of 12 gold, 9 silver and 14 bronze medals to stay in the seventh position.
Sunday started as a spectacular day for Team Nigeria as world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdlers, Oluwatobiloba Amusan, raced into the Games history books as the second sprint hurdler to successfully defend the title she won four years ago in Gold Coast, Australia.
The 12.30secs she clocked in winning the gold is also the Commonwealth Games new 100m hurdles record. It erased the 12.65 Games record set in 2006 by Jamaica’s Brigitte Foster-Hylton.
Before the final, Amusan who fortnight ago in Oregon USA set a new world record of 12.12 to win the gold, the first by a Nigerian, ran a new time of 12.40 to win the semi final but was denied the record by a 2.4 m/s tail wind.
The 25-year-old Amusan has also gone in history as the second sprint hurdler in Games history after Australia’s Sally Pearson (2010 and 2014) to successfully defend the event’s title.
Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton settled for silver with 12.58secs while home girl Cindy Sember picked the consolatory bronze in 12.59secs.
Barely two and half hours after winning the sprint barrier event, Amusan inspired Nigeria women’s 4x100m quartet of herself, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Grace Nwokocha to make history at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, becoming the first women’s relay team to win a Commonwealth Games gold in 28 years.
The quartet did it in record breaking fashion, running 42.10 secs to break the barely a month old 42.22 seconds African record they set in Oregon, USA at the World Athletics Championships.
World and Commonwealth Games 100m hurdles champion and record holder, Amusan started the historic run with a brilliant first leg before handing over to Ofili who ensured Nigeria maintained the advantage before giving Chukwuma, the individual 100m finalist the baton.
Chukwuma ran the curve perfectly and handed over to reigning Nigerian 100m queen, Nwokocha in first position.
The 21-year-old Nwokocha maintained the advantage despite the threat by Great Britain’s anchor leg runner, Darly Neita to bring home Nigeria’s first women’s relay gold in well over two decades.
Four years ago Amusan was part of the relay team that finished third at the Gold Coast in Australia.
Nigeria won her first 4x100m relay Commonwealth Games gold in 1994 in Victoria, Canada when the quartet of Faith Idehen, Mary Tombiri, Christy Opara-Thompson and Mary Onyali ran a then 42.99 seconds Games record to win.
The country’s first actual 4x100m relay medal was won four years earlier in Auckland, New Zealand where the quartet of Beatrice Utondu, Fatima Yusuf, Charity Opara, Chioma Ajunwa won a bronze medal.
Eight years ago in Glasgow, Scotland, Blessing Okagbare, who successfully completed a sprints double inspired the team to a silver medal finish.
As if the Nigerian ladies reserved their best in the track and field till the last day, Ese Brume jumped a 7.00m new Games Record to win the gold medal for the second time. Her first was at the Glasgow Games eight years ago.
Australian jumper Brooke Buschkuehl (6.95m) and Ghanaian girl, Deborah Acquah (6.94m) settled for the silver and bronze medals respectively.
Brume who won a silver medal at the last Worlds kicked off her gold medal rush with 6.99 in her second jump after a faulty first leap. She then had 6.81, 6.99, and 6.96. Her last sixth jump produced the 7.00m mark that gave her the gold.
NIGERIA’S PAST FIVE OUTINGS
*2022 – 7th position (So far)
12 Gold, 9 Silver, 14 Bronze
*2018 – 8th position
9 Gold, 10 Silver, 6 Bronze
*2014 – 8th position
11 Gold, 11 Silver, 14 Bronze
*2010 – 8th position
11 Gold, 8 Silver, 14 Bronze
ALL THE GOLD MEDALISTS
-Tobi Amusan (100m Women’s Hurdle and 4x100m Relay)
-Nigeria women’s 4x100m Relay (Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, Grace Nwokocha)
-Chioma Onyekwere (Women’s Shot put)
-Goodness Nwachukwu (Women’s Discus throw)
-Ese Brume (Women’s Long Jump)
*Wrestlers(Women’s Freestyle wrestling)
-Miesinnei Mercy Genesis (50 kg); Blessing Oborududu (57 kg) and Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg)
*Weightlifting(Women)
-Adijat Adenike Olarinoye (55kg) and Rafiatu Folashade Lawal (59kg)
*Wrestlers(Women’s Freestyle wrestling)
-Miesinnei Mercy Genesis (50 kg); Blessing Oborududu (57 kg) and Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg)
*Weightlifting(Women)
-Adijat Adenike Olarinoye (55kg) and Rafiatu Folashade Lawal (59kg)
President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday arrived in Katsina to receive the remains of the former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away in London on Sunday at the age of 82.
Just hours before the burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari, heartfelt tributes have continued to pour in from beneficiaries of his many charitable deeds, with many describing him as a man who never turned his back on the needy.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, Aminu Daura, a respected community elder, recalled how Buhari consistently provided foodstuffs during Ramadan for families, friends, widows, and orphans in his hometown.
“He never made noise about it, but many homes had food on their tables during fasting period because of him,” Daura said.
Abdullahi Sani, a physically-challenged man who received a tricycle from the Buhari Foundation in 2021, was overcome with emotion while speaking to NAN.
“I can move around and feed my family today because of Baba Buhari. I pray to Allah to reward him for giving hope to people like me,” he said, in tears.
Hajiya Fatima Yahaya, another resident, remembered Buhari’s acts of kindness during festive seasons.
“Even after he left office, his aides ensured that the usual support still reached us every year. He always remember his people,” she said, referring to his distribution of Sallah rams and food items to indigent families during Eid celebrations.
Other residents of Daura also shared memories of how the late former president quietly paid school fees and medical bills for struggling families, actions rarely publicized.
“Some of us benefited from his silent interventions. He was a true father and a great figure in the society,” said Ali Saidu.
On Monday night, Imams across various mosques in Daura held special Qur’anic recitations, praying for the forgiveness of Buhari’s sins and his eternal peace.
The Chief Imam of Daura Central Mosque, Sheikh Musa Kofar Barau, described Buhari as a humble leader whose legacy of service and compassion would remain alive in the hearts of the people.
Buhari is scheduled to be buried later on Tuesday in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, in line with Islamic rites. The community is bracing to welcome thousands of mourners from across Nigeria and beyond.
His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco has extended heartfelt condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the family of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, and the entire Nigerian people following Buhari’s death.
In a message of sympathy, the Moroccan monarch described the passing of the former Nigerian leader as a “sad occurrence,” expressing deep sorrow over the loss.
King Mohammed VI hailed Buhari as “an illustrious leader who worked untiringly to serve his country’s best interests and lead his people toward further progress and prosperity.”
He added: “Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the bereaved. I share your grief and want you to know how much I appreciated the working sessions I had with the deceased.”
Reflecting on their bilateral engagements, the king noted that his collaboration with Buhari led to the launch of promising development projects, “ushering a new era grounded in friendship and close cooperation between our two sister nations.”
Tinubu arrives Katsina to receive Buhari’s body for burial
“He Never Turned His Back on the Needy” — Tributes Pour In Ahead of Buhari’s Burial
King Mohammed VI Mourns Buhari, Praises Legacy of Nigeria’s Former Leader
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