Ajayi beats reigning olympic champion, Ashe advances, duo gets 100m semis spot

The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has applauded the duo of Kanyinsola Ajayi and Favour Ashe for their remarkable performances in their respective heats, which ensured Nigeria remains represented in the men’s 100m event at the ongoing 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

On Saturday morning, national champion Kanyinsola Ajayi delivered a standout performance in heat 5, surprising many by defeating reigning Olympic Champion Marcell Jacobs with a winning time of 10.02 seconds. Jacobs followed closely with 10.05 seconds, and Abdul Rasheed Saminu finished third in 10.06 seconds.

Favour Ashe also made it to the semifinals, securing one of the fastest non-automatic qualifying spots. Ashe placed fourth in heat 4 with a time of 10.16 seconds, following Oblique Seville (9.99s), Hakim Sani Brown (10.02s), and Puripol Boonson (10.13s).

Senator Enoh commended both athletes for rising to the challenge and charged them to aim for further success as the semifinals and final take place tomorrow evening. He emphasized the importance of maintaining resilience and focus as they compete on the global stage.

Also, Team Nigeria’s 16-year-old swimmer Adaku Nwandu narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Women’s 50m Freestyle final. She finished second in her heat with a time of 26.62 seconds but did not rank among the 16 fastest times needed to advance. Senator Enoh congratulated Nwandu on her fine performance in Paris and expressed confidence in her potential for future achievements.

The Minister also encouraged other Nigerian athletes awaiting their events to strive for qualification from the heats and to aim for podium finishes. He urged all participants to embody the spirit of resilience and determination, representing Nigeria with pride and excellence at the Games, adding that support from all Nigerians is important at this time.