By John Essien
One of the athletes representing Team Nigeria at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Favour Ofili has been ruled out of the Athletics events kicking off on Tuesday after she tested positive for Covid-19.
Since she arrived in Birmingham, the 19-year-old has been in isolation hoping to recover before the commencement of the events.
She has been unable to fully recover and Joy Udo- Gabriel has been drafted in to take her position to compete in the 100 meters events.
Udo-Gabriel, a member of the bronze-winning 4x100m relay team four years ago in the Gold Coast, Australia has been in a splendid form since the start of the outdoor season and will be hoping to set a new record in the event.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be on the Nigerian duo of Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume as the athletics events take centre stage Today.
Amusan is set to defend the title she won on the Gold Coast four years ago.
Amusan, who shattered the world 100 metres hurdles record en route to winning gold at last month’s World Athletics Championships in Oregon, reduced the 2016 mark of 12.20 seconds set by Keni Harrison of the United States to 12.12 in her semi-final before winning gold in a wind-assisted time of 12.06.
She will be a strong favourite but by no means a certainty given the quality of the field she is set to face in the re-built Alexander Stadium.
Together with Ese Brume, who won silver medal in the women’s long jump in Oregon, Amusan and compatriots are going to Birmingham sure of making their countrymen and women happy.
