Sports
Glasgow 2026: Nigeria Opens Day 6 with Shot Put Final Ticket, 200m Semifinal Berths, as More Medal Hopes Await
Team Nigeria began Day 6 of competition at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on a bright note, securing qualification for the men’s shot put final and advancing three sprinters to the semifinals of the 200 metres, as the country’s athletes continue their pursuit of more medals.
Leading the charge was Nigeria’s premier shot putter, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, who needed just a single throw to book his place in the men’s shot put final.
The Commonwealth and African champion comfortably surpassed the automatic qualification mark with an opening throw of 20.03 metres, underlining his status as one of the favourites heading into the medal event.
On the track, Jennifer Obi Chukwuka announced herself in style on her Commonwealth Games debut, storming to victory in her women’s 200m heat in a new personal best of 23.26 seconds (+1.4). She crossed the line comfortably ahead of Canada’s Marie-Eloise Leclair, who finished second in 23.50 seconds, securing automatic qualification for the semifinals.
Olayinka Olajide also progressed to the women’s 200m semifinals after finishing third in her heat in 23.62 seconds (+0.8). She qualified behind Lavanya Williams, who won the race in 22.91 seconds, and Veronica Pereira, who finished second in 23.00 seconds.
In the men’s 200m, Udodi Onwuzurike produced one of the standout performances of the morning session, powering to victory in Heat Five with an impressive 20.31 seconds despite a +2.4m/s tailwind. He finished comfortably ahead of Shamar Horatio, who clocked 20.83 seconds, while Lamin Camara was third in 21.19 seconds.
Alaba Akintola did not advance to the semifinals after placing third in Heat Two in 20.96 seconds. Akintola started strongly before finishing behind Zambia’s Zablon Ekwam, who won the race in 20.42 seconds, and Wanyae Belle, who crossed in 20.79 seconds.
Attention now shifts to an action-packed evening session, with Nathaniel Ezekiel set to compete in the men’s 400m heats, Jessica Oji contesting the women’s shot put final, and Blessing Orakwe stepping into the ring for her women’s 70kg boxing quarterfinal.
Nigeria will also be represented by Mary Osijo in the women’s 86kg weightlifting final, while Goodness Nwachukwu and Destiny Agbo compete in the women’s para athletics discus throw. In para athletics, Ifeanyi Christian will line up in the men’s T47 100m final as Team Nigeria looks to add to its growing medal haul.
As the morning session of Day 6 concluded, Nigeria had amassed 12 medals, comprising six gold, four silver and two bronze medals, with several more medal opportunities still to come before the week ends.
Sports
NSC Disburses Another ₦300m Training Grants to 31 Elite Athletes Ahead of 2028 Olympic Games
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has disbursed approximately ₦300 million in quarterly training grants to more than 31 Nigerian elite athletes, providing early boost to the country’s preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The latest payment marks another milestone in the Commission’s efforts to strengthen athletes’ welfare and ensure sustained preparations for major international competitions under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The latest disbursement is the fifth since the introduction of the quarterly training grants policy in 2025 through the NSC’s Elite and Podium Board, and the third payment made in 2026.
With the latest payment, the Commission has now disbursed more than ₦1 billion in training grants to Nigerian elite athletes over the past two years.
The initiative provides quarterly grants of $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000 to athletes, depending on their performance and eligibility under the scientific performance indicators established by the Elite and Podium Board.
The policy has been widely welcomed by some of the country’s leading athletes, who have described it as a game changer that has significantly improved their preparations for international competitions by providing consistent financial support for their training needs.
Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, said the initiative reflected the Commission’s commitment to building a sustainable system for sporting success through deliberate investment in athletes.
“There are no accidental successes in sports. This is why the Commission has prioritised the welfare and wellbeing of our athletes as a critical part of our strategy for scientific podium success,” Hon, Olopade said.
He said the training grants were among the key mandates given to the Commission’s leadership by President Tinubu to ensure that Nigerian athletes receive the financial support needed to compete effectively at the highest level.
“I am particularly glad that we have been able to institute this athletes’ training grants policy because it is one of the core mandates Mr President gave to Mallam Shehu Dikko and me, to ensure that we put money in the pockets of Nigerian athletes and prepare them adequately for international competitions like the Olympics.”
“We can only get the best out of our athletes when we take care of them properly. By doing so, they will wear the Green and White of our country with pride and dignity. This is why Mr President has continued to support every policy we have introduced to revamp the sports sector,” he said.
Hon. Olopade added that sustained financial support would enable athletes to concentrate on their training without the distractions of financial uncertainty.
“Our athletes need this money to stay focused on their training so they are not distracted in their preparations for major competitions. And we must not forget that when we take care of our athletes, they will take care of the country with medals,” he added.
The impact of the training grants has continued to reflect in Nigeria’s recent performances at international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where the country emerged as Africa’s leading nation.
The performances of athletes such as Samuel Ogazi and Nathaniel Ezekiel, who broke world records, further highlighted the benefits of sustained investment in elite sports development.
Team Nigeria’s impressive outing at the 2025 Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia also underscored the importance of consistent support for athletes as the country intensifies preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The NSC said the training grants remain a central component of its strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s elite sports system, improve international competitiveness and deliver sustained podium success at major global competitions.
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