Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi has defended his shot put title, winning the men’s final at the ongoing 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana, on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old won the nation’s first gold medal in athletics in this edition of the Games with a put of 21.06 metres to claim back-to-back titles in the men’s shot put event following his triumph in Rabat in 2019.
Enekwechi, who is also a gold medallist in the African Championships and a silver medallist from the Commonwealth Games, beat the Egyptian pair of Mostafa Amr Hassan (20.70m) and Magdi Mohamed Hamza (20.29m), who both finished in second and third place, respectively.
GOLD MEDAL FOR TEAM NIGERIA!!
Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi has successfully defended his African Games Shot Put title, winning Nigeria’s 1st GOLD medal in Athletics at #AfricanGames2023
This is Enekwechi’s second consecutive title at the African Games
More to come…. pic.twitter.com/5NjkY6wpde
— Making of Champions (@MakingOfChamps) March 19, 2024
Moses Emeka Ugwu, Nigeria’s other representative in the men’s shot put event, failed to make a podium finish as he ended in fifth place with a put of 16.43m.
ANOTHER GOLD MEDAL ALERT IN ATHLETICS FOR TEAM NAIJA
Ruth Usoro left it late until her very last jump, leaping from 2nd to 1st place, winning the GOLD medal on her very last attempt in Women’s Triple Jump.
Usoro knew she needed to come big on her 6th jump, and she delivered,… pic.twitter.com/UFz9uGu49M
— Making of Champions (@MakingOfChamps) March 19, 2024
In the women’s triple jump event, Ruth Usoro won gold for Nigeria with her very last jump of the final.
The 26-year-old jumped for a mark of 13.80m to clinch her first ever African title and Nigeria’s second gold medal in athletics at the African Games in Accra.
Bronze for Naija in women’s Hammer!
Sade Olatoye came very close to winning the GOLD medal in women’s Hammer Throw, throwing a then Games Record of 68.56m, but the Algerians came fighting back to claim GOLD & Silver in the Event. Olatoye had to settle for Bronze throwing a… pic.twitter.com/zObjPMkinF
— Making of Champions (@MakingOfChamps) March 19, 2024
Sade Olatoye, a gold medallist in shot put in Rabat in 2019, increased Nigeria’s medal haul in athletics after clinching the bronze medal in the women’s hammer throw, throwing a season’s best of 68.92m.
The 27-year-old almost won the gold medal after throwing an initial Games record of 68.56m. However, the Algerian pair Tatar Zahra and Zouina Bouzebra had other ideas as they overtook the Nigerian to finish first and second, respectively, with the former throwing a new Games record of 69.65m, while her compatriot was behind with 68.97m.
