100 metres hurdle world record holder Tobi Amusan on Friday met Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Amusan, who won gold at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA, is in the Team Nigeria squad for the 2022 Commonwealth Games taking place in Birmingham.
Dare, who is head of the Nigerian delegation to the games, expressed his delight at Amusan’s performance at the World Championships, reminding her that she has written her name boldly in history.
He said: “You have made Nigerians happy and the country stands firmly behind you and other athletes too. Thank you for your brilliant performance and for displaying the Nigerian spirit.”
The minister urged Amusan, alongside other athletes, to remain focused on the task at hand in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Amusan did 12.12 seconds in the semi-final of the 100 metres hurdle at the World Athletics Championships, breaking American Kendra Harrison’s 2016 record of 12.20 seconds.
She went on to bag gold in the final, but her finishing time of 12.06 was ruled out for strong wind speeds.
It was the first time Nigeria would win gold at the World Championships, and the 25-year-old is favourite to win the 100 metres hurdle gold in Birmingham, four years after she did so at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.
Team Nigeria will begin its journey to triumph in track and field events of the Commonwealth Games on Monday, August 1.
