By Our Correspondent
National News – Nigerian sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan has declared her ambition to qualify for the World Ultimate Championships after beginning her 2026 athletics season with impressive performances in Ghana and China.
The world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles claimed gold at the African Championships in Accra before finishing third at the Shanghai Diamond League just days later.
Amusan raced to victory at the African Championships on Wednesday, showing strong early-season form ahead of a packed international calendar.
After her success in Ghana, she travelled directly to Shanghai, where she clocked 12.41 seconds to secure a podium finish in a highly competitive women’s hurdles event on Saturday.
Olympic champion Masai Russell won the race with a meeting record and world-leading time of 12.25 seconds, while reigning world indoor champion Devynne Charlton placed second in 12.38 seconds.
Despite arriving in China on the morning of the race, Amusan managed to deliver a strong performance against some of the world’s top athletes.
Speaking after the event, the Nigerian star admitted that fatigue and travel stress affected her preparations.
However, she expressed satisfaction with her result and optimism for the rest of the season.
Amusan said finishing among the top three was encouraging and described the outing as a solid start to her campaign.
She also stressed that her focus remains on securing qualification for the World Ultimate Championships through consistent performances in upcoming Diamond League meetings.
Qualification for the tournament will be determined through world rankings, Diamond League results, and automatic slots reserved for reigning Olympic and world champions.
With top athletes already sealing qualification spots, Amusan is expected to target valuable ranking points throughout the season.
The 28-year-old athlete currently holds the women’s 100m hurdles world record of 12.12 seconds and remains one of Nigeria’s biggest medal hopes on the global athletics stage.
