Paris Olympics: Ofili eases into 200m semi-finals with 2nd fastest qualification time

Nigeria’s Favour Ofili has qualified for the semi-final of the women’s 200 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

The 21-year-old sprinter dipped at 22:24 seconds to finish first in heat six of the first round of qualification on Sunday at the Stade de France, Paris.

UK’s Dina Asher-Smith took second at 12.51 seconds, followed by Gina Bass of Gambia, who finished third.

Ofili placed second fastest overall from the qualification phase behind only Gabrielle Thomas of the US, who ran 22.20 seconds in the second heat.

She will compete in the semi-final heat billed for 8 pm on Monday.

Ofili has been in the news recently following her omission from Team Nigeria’s women’s 100m list.

She accused the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) of failing to register her for the event.

She blamed NOC and AFN for “taking this opportunity from me”, adding that “neither organisation can ever be trusted in the future”.

Still to come for Team Nigeria in athletics on Sunday, Kanyinsola Ajayi and Favour Ashe will resume their quest for glory when they compete in the men’s 100m semi-finals.

They will file out for their respective heats by 7:05 pm.