Tokyo Olympics: Nigeria out of 4x100m relay as Enekwechi loses in shot put final

Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi finished 12th in the men’s shot put final at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics on Thursday.

The 28-year-old fouled in his first attempt but threw 18.87 meters in his second.

His third throw of 19.74 meters was far from good enough to improve his chance of a podium finish.

Enekwechi made history on Tuesday when he became the first Nigerian to qualify for the final of the shot put event.

The feat was followed by a video shared by the athlete where he was washing his “only” jersey.

Ryan Crouser of the US took the gold after hitting 23.30 metres on his sixth and final effort to set a new Olympic record.

America’s Joe Kovacs took silver with 22.65 meters, while New Zealand’s Tomas Walsh claimed bronze after throwing 22.47 meters.

In athletics, the hurriedly assembled team of Nigeria’s 4×100 meters clocked 43.25 seconds to finish sixth in heat 2 of the event.

The finish was far from the position and time required for a place in the race’s final.

Having qualified with the quartet of Blessing Okagbare, Grace Nwokocha, Favour Ofili and Rosemary Chukwuma, the team was without three athletes.

Okagbare was suspended from the games for failing a drug test, while Chukwuma and Ofili were among the 10 athletes not allowed to compete in Tokyo after failing to complete three out-of-competition tests.

With Nwokocha as the only available member of the original team, Ese Brume, who won a Long Jump bronze, Tobi Amusan, who missed out on a 100m hurdles medal, and Patience George Okon were hurriedly drafted as replacements.

Germany finished first, followed by Switzerland and China to complete the qualification slots.