Nigeria made a strong start at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, with sprinters Kayinsola Ajayi and Israel Okon advancing to the men’s 100m semifinals.

Ajayi, making his World Championships debut, clocked 9.88 seconds to place second in his heat behind South Africa’s Gift Leotlela (9.87 seconds); Jamaica’s Oblique Seville followed with 9.93 seconds.

Ajayi’s time is a new personal best. He now ranks as Nigeria’s third-fastest sprinter ever, behind Olusoji Fasuba (9.85 seconds) and Divine Oduduru (9.86 seconds).

The 21-year-old has now run five sub-10s this season, tying the national record for most in a career.

In another heat, debutant Israel Okon Sunday won in 10.04 seconds. He beat Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes (10.06 seconds) and Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs (10.20 seconds).

Ajayi will face Noah Lyles, Akani Simbine, Ackeem Blake, and Jacobs in Semifinal 1. Okon lines up in Semifinal 3 with Seville, Letsile Tebogo, Leotlela, and others.

In the field events, Nigeria’s shot put record holder, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, placed fifth in the final with a best throw of 21.52m.

He had earlier qualified with a mark of 20.83m.

Nigeria returns to action on Day 2 of the championships on Sunday.

The 2025 World Athletics Championships, which began on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan, is expected to end on September 21.

(NAN)