Funmilayo Fameso

Two-time Olympic Champion David Rudisha, is a cat with many lives after surviving a horror plane crash in Loitoktok, Kajiado county, in his home country of Kenya.

Reports says that he had graced the fifth edition of the Maasai Olympics held at Mbirikani before the aircraft 5Y-BGJ crash-landed at the Ilchalai area within Mbirikani in what is said to have been a mechanical hitch.

Rudisha boarded the plane with three other people, with one of the occupants reported to be hurt and rushed to Makueni hospital for further assessment.

Images began to circulate on social media during the weekend, which purportedly show the Kenyan running icon standing among the wreckage of a small plane, with the upturned aircraft lying on its roof in the background.

David Rudisha seen at the site of the plane crash unscathed

In a statement by&nbsp;Big Life Foundation,&nbsp;who are among the Maasai Olympics sponsors, they confirmed that Rudisha did not suffer any significant injuries.

"Shortly after take off from an airstrip where the Maasai Olympics were being held today, a light aircraft carrying David Rudisha, the 800m world record holder, and some people connected to today's event was forced to make an emergency landing.

One of the passengers was injured and is being treated at the hospital. The others including Rudisha who is the patron of the Maasai Olympics suffered no significant physical injuries. As is a norm following any crash involving an aircraft, Kenya Civil Aviation will investigate.

Until they have completed their report, it is not appropriate to comment further. The best wishes of Big Life and all involved in the Maasai Olympics are with the injured passenger for a speedy recovery," they said in a statement.

The 800m World Record (WR) holder is one of the most decorated African runners in history, after winning back-to-back Gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics in London and Rio de Janeiro.&nbsp;

David Rudisha set the 800m WR at the London Olympic Games

It is the second time the 33-year-old is surviving a near-death experience, the first being three years ago after he walked away from a fatal car accident unscathed.

David Rudisha survived a fatal car accident three years ago

Rudisha has never formally confirmed his retirement from running but has failed to compete in major competitions in recent years.

David Rudisha is a two-time Olympic Champion

David Rudisha is confirmed to have survived plane crash in home country of Kenya.

UPDATE: Olympic Champion David Rudisha is alive! Miraculously survived plane crash unscathed

Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has officially been reinstated as full member, following an unanimous vote by World Rugby Council on November 10, 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand.

In an official letter by World Rugby's Chief International Relations and Participation Officer, David Carigy,&nbsp;he stated that Nigeria Rugby Football Federation has been reinstated. NRFF is to submit progress of activities to World Rugby Council in 2024 and pledged to help the game grow in the country.

Nigeria was suspended from all international Rugby activities following the dissolution of all Federation Boards including Rugby by the Ministry of Sports in April 2021. The suspension stopped Nigeria from featuring in some international engagements including Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifiers, Birmingham Commonwealth Games qualifiers and the just concluded Africa Women's Cup.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, NRFF President, Dr Ademola Are commended World Rugby for giving Nigeria the nod to rejoin the international scene. He pledged that his administration would not relent in making rugby more popular in the country.

“I am happy to see that Nigeria is back to the international scene. On assuming office as the president of (NRFF), I stated that it would not take too long for Nigeria to be back in the international scene.”

The journey has not been easy, However, I thank World Rugby for understanding the need to develop the game in Nigeria by lifting the ban. I also thank the Hon Minister of Youth and Sports, Chief Sunday Dare and NRFF Board Members for their continued support and not to leave out Rugby players and Fans for their patience as well as the media for sticking with us through thick and thin. We say Thank you all.

“We are grateful. This recent development would make the NRFF to redouble its efforts and keep working hard to reposition our national rugby team (The Black Stallions), our female team, Nigerian domestic clubs and grassroots development programmes." Dr Ademola concluded.

Speaking with NRFF General Manager, Mr Azeez Ladipo, ‘’We are working to ensure&nbsp;our national League kicks off in 2023. As you know we have the Northern League and Southern Leagues to keep our players going. Our target is to see that rugby is played in all part of the country, this is why we are focusing on grooming children in Rugby” Ladipo declared.

The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has officially been reinstated as a full member by the World Rugby Council.

World Rugby lifts Nigeria’s suspension from international championships

Athletics

In a country where football is the most dominant sport, the interest in athletics is fast growing with more people now beginning to follow the sport keenly.

This isn't surprising, as the heroics of some athletes who have evolved into world beaters have changed the image of the sport within the country and globally.

Athletes such as Tobi Amusan reached the peak of her career, while Ese Brume, Favour Ofili, and several others attained historic feats never before seen in Nigeria athletics history.

These feats are results of broken records, first-time achievements in history, and several significant milestones worthy of recognition and pride, which have now ignited a fire amongst Nigerians that can change the sport forever.

On that note, here is a detailed compilation of athletics records and historic feats attained by Nigerian athletes in 2022.

World 100mH Record

One is at a loss of words trying to describe the incredible feat of Tobi Amusan running a World Record (WR) of 12.12s in the 100mH semi-finals, and even a much improved time of 12.06s (2.5) to win the final at the World Championships in Oregon.&nbsp;

Her winning time of 12.06s, though illegal due to the excessive wind reading, is the fastest all-time in all wind conditions, meaning it also stands as a WR, certifying she is the fastest sprint hurdler in history.

Amusan is the first Nigerian and African woman in history to set a WR and be crowned World Champion in the event, meaning no African female athlete in history that has ever competed in the event achieved this feat.

The 25-year-old is also Nigeria’s first World Outdoor Champion, equaled by Olusoji Fasuba’s World Indoor 60m title at Valencia 2008.

The WR also stands as an African Record (AR) and Nigerian Record (NR).

Commonwealth Games Records

At the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Amusan and Ese Brume were the only Nigerian athletes to set a Commonwealth Games Record in their events.

Interestingly, this happened the same day just minutes from each other. Amusan was the first to achieve hers, blazing through the track and hurdles to cross the finish line in 12.30s (-0.2), which smashed the previous GR of 12.65s.

Brume followed suit with her last leap in six-jump attempts, taking down the previous record of 6.99m with a new 7.00m to regain her title from 2014.

Diamond League Trophy

Another first for Amusan, she became the first Nigerian to win not one but two Diamond League trophies in Zurich.

The WR holder successfully defended her Diamond League title from 2021, running a fast 12.29s, shattering the Meeting Record (MR) of 12.40s, to cap off her historic 2022 season.

African 4x100m Record

Asides Amusan’s WR and AR of 12.12s, the women’s 4x100m quartet comprising Joy Udo-Gabriel, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, and Grace Nwokocha, also ran an AR of 42.22s for the fourth position at the World Championships in Oregon, which smashed the previous record of 42.39s set at Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.

They further took down the record at the Commonwealth Games, this time replacing Udo-Gabriel for Amusan, and they clocked 42.10s for the title.

African Indoor 200m Record

Ofili ran a 200m lifetime best and indoor African Record of 22.46s for victory at the South Eastern Conference Indoor Championships.&nbsp;

Commonwealth Games Discus Champion

Chioma Onyekwere became the first Nigerian athlete to win a Commonwealth Games Discus title. She threw a Season’s Best (SB) of 61.70m for victory in the final, which also saw Obiageri Amechi win the Bronze medal.

Usoro became the first Nigerian jumper in history to compete in both the Long and Triple Jump at the same World Championships.

She qualified for both events at the World Indoor Championships, where she finished eighth in the triple jump, while at the World Outdoor Championships in Oregon, again competed in both events and finished eleventh in the long jump.

African Championships Record

Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, threw a Championship Record (CR) of 21.08m to successfully retain his Shot Put title from 2018 at the African Championships in Mauritius.

The NR holder in the event has now won three continental Gold medals, cementing his place as the most dominant athlete in the event since making his debut for Nigeria in 2017.

7.00m jump history

This season, Ese Brume became the first African woman to jump four legal marks over 7.00m. She hit the 7m twice, jumping 7.02m to finish second in Oregon and her victorious GR mark in Birmingham.

NCAA women’s 100m history

The trio of Grace Nwokocha (North Carolina A&amp;T), Rosemary Chukwuma (Texas Tech University), and Ofili (Louisiana State University) ran brilliant times of 10.97s, 10.99s, and 11.08s respectively in their NCAA Championships 100m semis to make the final.

It is the first time in history that three home-grown Nigerian athletes competed in the final of the NCAA event, and the nation had multiple sub-11s runners in a season, having had Ofili clock 10.93s earlier in the year.

Nigerian 200m Record

Ofili erased Blessing Okagbare’s 200m NR of 22.04s with a new time of 21.97s, becoming the first Nigerian female athlete in history to go under the 22s mark.

Nigerian 400mH Record

Nathaniel Ezekiel’s brilliant highlight of the 2022 season was winning the Big12 Championship title for his school Baylor University, clocking a jaw-dropping time of 48.42s, which smashed the school record and Henry Amike’s long-standing National Record (NR) set in 1987.

Nigerian Javelin Throw Record

Nnamdi Chinecherem won the Javelin Throw BIG12 Championships title for his school Baylor University, smashing Pius Bazighe’s long-standing NR of 81.08m set in 1999 with a new 81.22m, thereby becoming the second Nigerian thrower in history over the 80m mark.&nbsp;

Nigerian U20 100m Record

At the World U20 Championships in Cali, Tima Godbless opened her campaign by racing to a lifetime best of 11.09s, which launched her above the number-one spot occupied by Uduak Ekah, on the Nigerian U20 all-time list.

Ekah was the record holder for 23 years following the 11.11s she ran in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1999.

The 18-year-old Godbless has joined Ofili at Louisiana State University on scholarship to continue her education and athletics career.

Udodi Onwuzuruike surpassed Davidson Ezinwa’s 32-year-old 100m Nigerian Junior Record of 10.05s, with a new lifetime best and record of 10.03s.

It was indeed an historic 2022 season, wasn't it?

Tobi Amusan achieved several historic feats in 2022

A detailed compilation of athletics records and historic feats achieved by Nigerian athletes in 2022.

Athletics records and historic feats achieved by Nigerian athletes in 2022

The third quarter of the year was arguably the most historic in Nigerian athletics history, as the athletes produced exceptional performances at the World Championships in Oregon and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

At the end of the World Championships, the athletes gave good accounts in the events represented, which paid off by winning Gold and Silver medals.

The major highlight came from Tobi Amusan’s incredible performance in the 100mH semis, where she ran an unbelievable jaw-dropping new World Record (WR) of 12.12s (0.9m/s) to improve the previous record of 12.20s, and followed that with a windy 12.06s (2.5m/s) to win the final.

Tobi Amusan broke the world record in the 100mH at the World Atheltics Championships in Oregon

This historic feat made her become Nigeria’s first WR holder and outdoor champion, and one of the outstanding performers at the championship. Also, her WR and title-winning performance were only matched by USA’s Sydney McLaughlin in the 400mH and Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis in the Pole Vault.

Another exceptional performance was from Ese Brume, who proved once again why she is the most consistent medal-winning Nigerian athlete in the past few years. She added a shining Silver medal in the Long Jump, with a brilliant Season’s Best (SB) of 7.02m in the final.&nbsp;

Ese Brume won a shining Silver medal in the long jump final in Oregon

Consequently, she made history as the first African (male or female) to win two Long Jump medals at the World Championships, in addition to her Bronze medal from Doha 2019. Furthermore, she’s the second Nigerian and African woman after Blessing Okagbare to make the events podium at the championship.

The Long Jump final also had the presence of Ruth Usoro making her debut. Usoro finished 11th with a best leap of 6.52m but had also competed in the women’s Triple Jump heats, which made her the first Nigerian athlete to compete in the events in World Championships history.&nbsp;

Ruth Usoro is the first Nigerian athlete in history to compete in both the long and triple jump at the World Championships (IMAGO/Jan Huebner)

One more high point was in the women’s 4x100m, where the young quartet of Joy Udo-Gabriel, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, and Grace Nwokocha, smashed the 30-year-old African Record (AR) of 42.39s with a new 42.22s, to finish fourth in the final.

The quartet of Joy Udo-Gabriel, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma & Grace Nwokocha ran an AR of 42.22s to finish 4th in the final

Their result came as a surprise to many considering they had only qualified as one of the fastest losers in the heats, so raising the bar so high like that in the final by setting an AR is an achievement that will remain in the history books.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also, the quartet of Patience George, Sikiru Adeyemi, Imaobong Uko, and Samson Nathaniel finished a commendable sixth in the mixed 4x400m final.

Meanwhile, in the sprints events, though the youngsters did not make the final, their outings bode of a bright future lieing ahead, and affirms the World Athletics statement of Nigeria being a ‘Rising Sprinting Nation.’&nbsp;

National Champion Favour Ashe, as well as Raymond Ekevwo qualified for the 100m semi-finals clocking 10.00s and 10.17s respectively, while Udodi Onwuzuruike did not make it. The women’s event had Nwokocha as a sole entrant, and she bowed out in the semis.

In the 200m, all participants in Onwuzurike, Nwokocha, Chukwuma, and Ofili, qualified for the semi-finals, as well as Ezekiel Nathaniel in the 400mH, while the duo of Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and Chioma Onyekwere, sadly didn’t scale through from their qualifying groups in the men’s Shot Put and women’s Discus throw events respectively.&nbsp;

<h3>Commonwealth Games, Birmingham</h3>

The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England drew the curtain to a magnificent international season for Nigeria athletics, as several significant feats were attained by the athletes on ground-breaking notes.

Fresh from her WR outstanding performance in Oregon, Amusan continued with the momentum by successfully defending her Commonwealth title from 2018, this time smashing the Games Record (GR) of 12.65s with a new 12.30s (-0.2).&nbsp;

Tobi Amusan sucessfully defended her Commonwealth title in a new GR of 12.30s

In so doing, Amusan became the first Nigerian Track and Field athlete to successfully defend her Commonwealth title, joining Odunayo Adekuoroye (Nigerian wrestler) as the only two athletes to do so.&nbsp;&nbsp;

More gratifying about the GR triumph is that it cleared any doubts that may have arisen after running the WR of 12.12s, as the time is her second-fastest legal career time which she ran into into a headwind, and just about validates the WR showing she has mastered the art of sprint hurdling.

Amusan passed the GR performance baton to Ese Brume in the Long Jump final, where she dominated the rest of the field, and with her last jump, she leaped to a new GR of 7.00m to reclaim her Commonwealth title from 2014.

Ese Brume regained her Commonwealth Games title from 2014, jumping a GR of 7.00m

This season, she hit the 7m twice, jumping 7.02m to finish second in Oregon. With her winning mark in Birmingham, she became the first African woman to jump four legal marks over 7.00m.

Chioma Onyekwere also had a first-time master stroke, as she became the first Nigerian woman in history to win a Commonwealth Gold medal in the Discus, with a SB throw of 61.70m.

She inspired a 1-3 finish as Obiageri Amechi also got on the podium, clinching the Bronze medal. Having won multiple continental titles, it was the first title Onyekwere won outside Africa.

Chioma Onyekwere became the first Nigerian athlete to win Commonwealth Discus Gold medal

The spotlight was on Favour Ofili in the women’s 200m, who produced the best performance of her senior career at a major championships, after winning the Silver medal by running a time of 22.51s.

Favour Ofili won 200m Silver, which is her first at a major championship

Finally sealing off an unprecedented outing at the Games were the women's and men’s 4x100m relay teams, with Gold and Bronze medals respectively.

The women’s team comprising Amusan, Ofili, Chukwuma, and Nwokocha, blazed to a new AR of 42.10s, thus erasing their previous record of 42.22s set two weeks earlier at the World Championships.

The women's 4xx100m quartet blazed to a new AR of 42.10s to win the Commonwealth title

While the men’s team comprising Udodi Onwuzuruike, Ashe, Alaba Akintola, and Ekevwo, brought home the baton in a time of 38.85s.

Team Nigeria men won Commonwealth 4x100m Bronze medal

The last time Nigeria had two relay teams medal in the 4x100m at the Commonwealth Games was in Auckland in 1990, and thirty-two years after, these young sprinters replicated that with better placements and an AR to go with it.

Worthy mentions at the Games are Chukwuma and Nwokocha, who finished fourth and fifth apiece in the 100m final, while Onwuzuruike and Ezekiel Nathaniel placed sixth in the men’s 200m and 400mH final.

<h3>Diamond League, Zurich</h3>

Tobi Amusan capped off her historic season with a brilliant spectacle at the final leg of the Diamond League meeting in Zurich, successfully retaining her Diamond League 100mH title.&nbsp;

Her winning time of 12.29s (-0.3) took down Gail Devers’ long-standing 22-year-old Meeting Record (MR) of 12.39s. It also erased her Commonwealth GR second-fastest legal time of 12.30s, further buttressing that her WR in Oregon was in no way a fluke.

Amusan won all major titles this year in record-breaking times, which unsurprisingly earned her a spot in the five finalists of the World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year award.

Tobi Amusan's World title winning performance earned Nigeria the highest points

Considering she is the first Nigerian to achieve all her historic accomplishments this year, the 25-year-old has a good chance of winning the prestigious award, and if it happens she will be the first Nigerian in history to attain this feat.&nbsp;

Tobi Amusan, Ese Bume, Chioma Onyekwere and Favour Ofili attained historical feats in the third quarter of Nigeria Athletics 2022 season.

Review of Nigeria Athletics 2022 Season - World Senior Championships and Commonwealth Games

The journey to a successful outing at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Outdoor Championships began at the NCAA Eastern and Western Conferences prelims, where an astonishing 17 out of 26 competing Nigerian college athletes qualified - the third highest nationality qualifiers behind USA and Jamaica.

Then competing at the Nationals, they churned out historical performances. In the women's 100m, the trio of Grace Nwokocha (North Carolina A&amp;T), Rosemary Chukwuma (Texas Tech University), and Favour Ofili (Louisiana State University) ran brilliant times of 10.97s, 10.99s, and 11.08s respectively in their semis to make the final.

Grace Nwokocha, Rosemary Chukwuma and Favour Ofili made history in the 100m final at the 2022 NCAA Championships

Their feat became the first time in history that three Nigerians competed in the final of the NCAA event, and the nation had multiple sub-11s runners in a season, having had Ofili clock 10.93s earlier in the year, who later went on to win 200m Silver medal clocking a massive 22.05s.

Meanwhile, in the men’s category, Favour Ashe (University of Tennessee) won 100m Silver in 10.08s and Udodi Onwuzurike (Stanford University) with 200m Bronze medal in 20.25s.&nbsp;

Favour Ashe and Udodi Onwuzurike, won 100m Silver and 200m Bronze medals respectively

The field events had Ruth Usoro (Texas Tech University) clinch the Triple Jump Silver medal with 13.95m, and Isaac Odugbesan (University of Alabama) secured the Shot Put Bronze medal with a throw of 20.45m.

Others as Nnamdi Chineherem and Ezekiel Nathaniel of Baylor University, finished 4th in the Javelin Throw and 400mH, as well as Best Erhire (High Jump) and Esther Isa (Triple Jump) getting to the final, thereby earning First Team All-American Honours, while the rest that bowed out in the semis earned Second Team All-American Honours.

These college athletes are considered the second generation of Nigerian athletes set to take the world by storm, especially at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.

African Championships, Mauritius

Team Nigeria went with a lean team of youth and experience to the 22nd African Championships in Mauritius, consisting of mainly home-based players.&nbsp;

This was due to the engagements of the college athletes in their various schools at the NCAA Championships, while some senior athletes competed in the European circuit in preparation for the World Championships.

Notwithstanding, the team gave good performances, as they finished third on the overall medals table with 5 Gold, 3 Silver, and 3 Bronze medals, behind Kenya and South Africa.

National Record (NR) holder Chukwuebuka Enekwechi topped the list of Gold medal winners, throwing a Championship Record (CR) of 21.08m to retain his title from 2018.&nbsp;

Chuks Enekwechi threw a CR of 21.08m to successfully defend his Shot Put title at the African Championships in Mauritius

The medal was his third continental Gold, cementing his place as the most dominant athlete in the event since making his debut for Nigeria in 2017. The hat trick of titles won are at the 2018 African Championships in Asaba and 2019 African Games in Rabat.&nbsp;

On Day 2 of the Championship, Tobi Amusan dominated the 100mH event winning the country’s second Gold medal. The African Record (AR) holder clocked a wind-aided time of 12.57s (4.0m/s) after running 12.53s (2.5m/s) in the heats, both times surpassing the CR of 12.77s but for the excessive wind.

Tobi Amusn successfully defended her African title

Consequently she became the third Nigerian after Maria Usifo (1984 and 1985) and Glory Alozie (1996, 1998, 2000), and the fifth African to successfully defend the events title.

Following Amusan’s brilliant performance, the quartet of Ifeanyi Ojeli, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Ayo Adeola, and Patience George, won the mixed 4x400m Silver medal behind Botswana, the same medal as Temitope Adeshina in the women’s High Jump.

Amusan made it a brace of Gold medals on Day 3, anchoring the women’s 4x100m to victory in 44.45s. The team comprising Tima Godbless, Praise Idamadudu, and Praise Oforku, ensured Nigeria won her 11th title in the history of the championship.

Amusan made it a brace of Gold medals anchoring the women's 4x100m to victory

Chioma Onyekwere inspired a 1-3 finish in the women’s Discus final, throwing a distance of 58.19m to defend her title which is her fourth African Championships medal since 2016. Meanwhile, Obiageri Amechi making her debut appearance for the country, secured the Bronze medal with a throw of 54.15m.

Chioma Onyekwere inspired a 1-3 finish in the Discus final at the 2022 African Championships

Chioma Onyekwere inspired a 1-3 finish in the Discus final at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Sade Olatoye, making her debut at the championship, dominated the women’s Hammer throw by winning Nigeria’s fourth Gold medal with a distance of 63.67m.

On the final day, history was made as Mike Edwards became the first Nigerian man to win a medal at the championship since 1996 when Anthony Idiata won Silver scaling the height of 2.16m.&nbsp;

Mike Edwards made history as the first Nigerian man to win a medal since 1996

Edwards also won the same color of the medal with a height of 2.15m, narrowly losing to Algeria’s Hichem Bouhanoune on countback, while South Africa’s Mpho Links settled for Bronze with the same mark of 2.15m.

The men and women’s 4x400m teams put up spirited performances to win Bronze medals, thereby taking the country’s tally of medal's to four out of five relay events contested at the biennial championship.

The women’s 4x400m team was a perfect blend of youth and experience, having Deborah Oke, Queen Usunobun, and Ella Onojuvwewo banking on the experience of Patience George, pipped Botswana to the Bronze medal in a time of 3.36.24. While their male counterparts of Johnson Nnamani, Chidi Okezie, Adeyemi Sikiru, and Emmanuel Ojeli got round the baton in 3:07.05, finishing ahead of Kenya.

Amusan, Ofili, Enekwechi and Ashe, headlined the second quarter of Nigeria Athletics 2022 season

Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and Favour Ashe, were the star performers in the second quarter.

Review of Nigeria Athletics 2022 Season - NCAA Outdoor Championships and African Senior Championships

It is imminent saying Nigeria Athletics rose to an all-time high this season, following the outstanding performances produced by the athletes at major championships.

From college athletes in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) to the senior athletes in the professional circuit and at international championships, Nigerians and athletics enthusiasts globally were thrilled to many now saying ‘the glory days of the sport in Nigeria are back.’

Major championships such as the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, African Championships in Mauritius, World Championships in Oregon, and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, were dominated or huge statements were made by Nigerian athletes.

With the season officially over, this is the review of the 2022 Nigeria Athletics season in the first quarter, featuring the NCAA Indoor Championships and World Indoor Championships.

NCAA Indoor Championships

The Championship took place in Birmingham, USA from March 11-12, which had the best of college athletes compete in preparation for the outdoor championships.

Nigerian college athletes that participated gave good accounts of themselves, as Favour Ofili of Louisiana State University topped the list by winning the women's 200m Silver medal with a time of 22.50s. She also qualified for the 60m final but placed 7th in the race.

Favour Ofili won 200m Silver medal at the NCAA Indoor Championships

Favour Ashe did it for his school, the University of Tennessee in the men's 60m final securing the Bronze medal, running a time of 6.55s.

Favour Ashe won 60m Bronze medal at the NCAA Indoor Championships

Favour Ashe won 100m Silver medal at the NCAA Outdoor Championships

Other athletes with good performances finished in the top seven of their various events. They are: Ruth Usoro (Texas Tech University) fifth-place finish in the women’s Long Jump final, Emmanuel Ineh (University of Alabama), a fifth-place finish in the men’s Long Jump final, Isaac Odugbesan (University of Alabama) was seventh in the men’s Shot Put final, and Best Erhire (Middle Tennessee State University), seventh place in the men’s High Jump final.

Noteworthy is that Ofili ran an indoor 200m Personal Best (PB) and African Record (AR) of 22.46s, while Ashe also ran an indoor 60m PB of 6.51s, in the heats at the championship in Birmingham.

World Indoor Championships, Belgrade

A few days after the NCAA Indoor Championships, attention shifted to the World Indoor Championships only six athletes donned the Nigerian colors. The athletes are Ese Brume and Ruth Usoro in the women’s Long Jump, while Sikiru Adewale, Timothy Emoghene, Ifeanyi Ojeli, and Samson Nathaniel competed in the men’s 4x400m.

As expected, Brume was the only medallist as she leapt to a Season Best (SB) of 6.85m to win the Silver medal. Doing this, she became the country’s first world indoor medallist in fourteen years, since Olusoji Fasuba last won the 60m title in 2008.

Ese Brume was Nigeria's only medallist in Belgrade

Usoro gave a good performance in her first major championships, making the final rounds of the jump and finished in eighth place, also with a SB of 6.69m. The men’s 4x400m quartet did not qualify for the final and finished in tenth place overall.

Ruth Usoro was the eighth best jumper at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade

Ruth Usoro is the first Nigerian athlete in history to compete in both the long and triple jump at the World Championships

Both indoor championships paved the way for what to expect from the athletes for the rest of the season.

Ese Brume, Favour Ofili and Favour Ashe headlined the first quarter of 2022 Nigeria Athletics season.

Review of 2022 Nigeria Athletics Season - NCAA Indoor and World Indoor Championships

Tennis

Having his family around was a major motivation for Novak Djokovic to win a record-equalling six titles at the ATP Finals against Casper Ruud, in straight sets 7-5 6-3 in 1 hour 33 minutes.

The Serbian first became a champion in Shanghai back in 2008, and fifteen years later he was back in the final looking for a Roger Federer record-equalling sixth title, which he did in outstanding fashion by winning all sets and staying undefeated throughout the championship.

It is the fourth time he has finished the tournament unbeaten, having previously done so in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

<h3>Novak Djokovic equals Roger Federer's ATP titles record</h3>

Also, Federer was the oldest winner to have won at the age of 30 years and 4 months in 2011. Djokovic has erased that record by taking this year's title at the age of 35 years and 182 days.&nbsp;

Djokovic defeated Casper Ruud in Nitto ATP Finals in Turin

Despite his victory, the final wasn’t an all smooth sailing ride for the 35-year old, as Casper Ruud put up a spirited performance, especially in the first set where Djokovic seemed to be struggling physically and shaking, just like in his match against Daniil Medvedev.

But it’s Djokovic, he always finds a way. An intense ball striking and he gets the first break of the match, taking the first set 7-5 having hit fourteen winners and six aces.

In the second set, the Norwegian did what he could to bounce back but couldn't find a way past Djokovic and his strong defence.

<h3>Novak Djokovic wins 6th ATP Finals title</h3>

The Serbian won 85 percent of his points on first serve and grabbed an early break to lead 3-1. Although Ruud reduced the gap, it wasn’t enough as Djokovic served out the match at 5-3, firing home an ace for the needed victory.

Casper Ruud lost to the supremacy of Djokovic in Turin

"Seven years, it's been a long time," Djokovic said. "At the same time, the fact that I waited seven years makes his victory even sweeter and even bigger.

"It's a huge deal (to end the year with a win). I've probably talked about this season and how unusual it is a thousand times, so I'm not going to repeat what most people who follow tennis know. It's just a big relief and satisfaction.

"Also, I look forward to having a couple of weeks off," Djokovic continued. "I was on the needles (edge), whether it was for tournaments or waiting for permission to go somewhere. So, I'm really glad that I managed to end it in a positive way."

His triumph ensured he maintained his unbeaten run against Ruud. He also walks away with a record payday of more than $4.7 million, as well as 1,500 ATP Rankings points placing him as No.5 seeded player in the world. The title is his first at the season-ending competition since 2015.

Ruud can also be proud of his achievements this season, making appearances at three Grand Slam finals and ending the year No.3 seeded player in the world. Though he lost in all finals, hopefully he can step it up a notch by winning bigger titles next year.

Novak Djokovic wins record sixth title at Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.

Funmilayo Fameso

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