2018 C/wealth Games: Ajayi lands in women’s 400m final

Nigeria’s Yinka Ajayi on Tuesday qualified for the final of the women’s 400m at the ongoing 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Ajayi, who competed in the second semi-final however, placed second with a time of 51.81 seconds behind Kenya’s Maximila Imali, who finished in a time of 51.52 seconds.

The 20-year-old athlete will today battle with Jamaican duo of Stephenie McPherson and Anastasia Le-Roy; Amantle Montsho and Christine Botlogetswe both from Botswana, home girl Anneliese Rubie of Australia and India’s Hima Das for the three medals at stake.

Ajayi, it will be recalled, won gold in the 4X400m relay at the 2015 African Junior Championship held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, Blessing Ibrahim failed to make the podium also on Tuesday as she finished fifth in the women’s triple jump final.

Ibrahim jumped 13.48m in the event won by Jamaican Kimberly Williams with a jump of 14.64m which was also her personal best.

Another Nigerian, Queen Obisesan, also on Tuesday finished fifth in the women’s hammer throw final with a throw of 63.84m.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s D’Tigers suffered their fourth defeat at the Games as they bowed 66-61 to Scotland in the men’s basketball event.

The 2015 African champions, Nigeria had earlier lost to New Zealand, Australia and Canada in the Games.

After losing the first two quarters 16-23, 12-17, D’Tigers claimed the third quarter 18-6, but the effort was not good enough to turn the tables against the Scotts.

Nigeria captain, Ike Diogu emerged the game’s top scorer with 24 points and 15 rebounds.