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Tag: Birmingham

  • Nigeria axed again for doping offence at Commonwealth Games

    Nigeria axed again for doping offence at Commonwealth Games

    England have been awarded the women’s 4×100 metres relay gold from the 2022 Commonwealth Games after race winners Nigeria had their result expunged.

    The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) announced this on Friday.

    England finished second in the race at the Games in Birmingham in August.

    However, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) later provisionally suspended Nigeria’s anchor Grace Nwokocha for the use of banned substances.

    As a result, her individual and team results at Birmingham 2022 have been annulled by the CGF.

    Jamaica were promoted to silver, while Australia took bronze.

  • Adekuroye wins gold for Nigeria in wrestling event

    Adekuroye wins gold for Nigeria in wrestling event

    Odunayo Adekuroye of Nigeria has won gold in the women’s 57kg freestyle wrestling event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games to retain the title she won  four years ago in Gold Coast Australia.

    Adekuroye defeated India’s Anshu Malik 7-3 on Friday in Birmingham to help Nigeria to its first gold medal in wrestling.

    Earlier in the day, World record holder Tobi Amusan  who admitted that she is “exhausted” after winning world 100m hurdles gold last month but the Nigerian hurdler looked impressive on Friday as she cruised through to the Commonwealth Games final.

    Amusan began the defence of her crown by finishing top of the qualifying times in 12.40sec, in windy conditions.

    “The mental part is there and the physical part is also done,” said Amusan. “But I’ve been so exhausted after those championships.

    “I’m just trying to hang in there and finish the season strong.”

    The 25-year-old Nigerian, who sported the logo “No Plastic Waste” on her tracksuit — is the favourite but are a clutch of rivals who could trouble her.

    Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper progressed serenely, winning her heat in 12.68sec.

    The other two potential challengers, England’s Cindy Sember and Jamaica’s Danielle Williams, are attempting to reboot their careers.

    Sember, who has failed to build on her fourth-place finish in the 2016 Olympic final in Rio, looked more like her former self as she cruised through her heat in 12.67sec.

    She showed a clean pair of heels to 29-year-old Williams, who won the 2015 world title.

    Amusan began the 2022 season in fine form, winning the 2022 Diamond League event in Paris, where she set an African record by 0.01s with a time of 12.41s.

    She followed that up with another great performance when she won the gold medal in the 100m hurdles at the 2022 African Championships in Mauritius, defending her title successfully with a time of 12.57s. She also competed in the women’s 4×100m and won gold.

    Meanwhile, Ese Brume and Ruth Usoro have sealed a place in the final of the Long Jump event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

    Brume hit the automatic qualification mark, leaping a distance of 6.81m (+0.3) on her second attempt.

    Usoro also booked her spot in the final, jumping a mark of 6.59m to finish joint 7th overall.

    The final of the event will take place on Sunday.

  • Commonwealth Games: Ugandan runner opens medal table for Africa

    Commonwealth Games: Ugandan runner opens medal table for Africa

    Ugandan runner, Victor Kiplangat has become the First African to win a gold medal at the ongoing Commonwealth games in Birmingham, UK.

    The long-distance runner produced an impressive performance to give Uganda their first-ever Commonwealth Games marathon gold in Birmingham on Saturday.

    Kiplangat took a wrong turn but still found his way to marathon gold providing some late drama to what had been an uneventful race.

    After more than 40 kilometers of running through the twisting Birmingham streets, Kiplangat veered off course in the late stages but had built up such a commanding lead that the miscue did not cause any damage.

    He posted a time of  2hr 10min 55sec, coming home with a broad grin on his face more than a minute and a half clear of Tanzania’s 2017 world bronze medallist Alphonce Felix Simbu.A delighted Michael Githae of Kenya wiggled his finger with a big smile at the spectators in the finishing straight as he took the bronze, more than two minutes behind the winner.Long-time pacesetter Luke Adams of Australia made a valiant effort at trying to give his country their third successive win in the event but had to settle for fourth.

    The medallists, draped in their respective national flags, delighted the crowd gathered at the finish in central Birmingham by going over and chatting to them.

    The women’s race was in its early stages with 41-year-old defending champion Helalia Johannes of Namibia confident she can win again.

    Johannes is not the oldest runner in the small but select field as Australia’s Sinead Diver is 45, the oldest competitor in athletics at the Games.

  • Sports Minister, Dare receives Tobi Amusan in Birmingham

    Sports Minister, Dare receives Tobi Amusan in Birmingham

    Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, on Friday received Oluwatobiloba Amusan for the first time after she brought glory to Nigeria at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, United States of America.

    Amusan won the 100m hurdles in Oregon, becoming the first Nigerian to win gold at the world championships as well as breaking a six-year record following a 12.12s in the semi-finals race.

    In a statement by the minister’s media department, Dare expressed his delight with the achievements of Amusan, reminding her that she has written her name boldly in history.

    “You have made Nigerians happy and the country stands firmly behind you and other athletes too.

    ”Thank you for your brilliant performance and for displaying the Nigerian spirit,” Dare said.

    He urged her alongside other athletes to remain focused on the task at hand in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

    Team Nigeria will begin its journey to triumph in the Track and Field event of the Commonwealth Games from Monday.

  • Commonwealth Games: First Batch of Team Nigeria’s contingent arrives in Birmingham

    Commonwealth Games: First Batch of Team Nigeria’s contingent arrives in Birmingham

    The first batch of Team Nigeria’s contingent to the 2022 Commonwealth Games has arrived in Birmingham, the host city of the event.

    The team left the country on Saturday in two groups via the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja.

    Musa Oshodi, president of the Nigeria Judo Federation, who was part of Nigeria’s first batch to the Games, confirmed the team’s arrival in an interview with newsmen.

    Oshodi said the team arrived around 6 p.m. on Saturday and has already begun athlete’s registration in Birmingham.

    Meanwhile, another batch of Team Nigeria’s contingent is expected to leave late Saturday night to the Games.

    Newsmen reports that 94 athletes and 21 officials will represent the country in nine sports at the Games.
    Meanwhile, Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, has charged the athletes to be focused and disciplined.

    Dare, in a statement released by his media unit, emphasised that there was going to be zero tolerance for doping by the Nigerian sports authorities.

    He also stated the need for the athletes to be clean and fair.

    “I want to urge you to be disciplined. If you have any complaints, the Ministry has outlined how they can be resolved.

    “There are just three layers for conflict resolution now and by the time you are getting to that third layer, you are getting to me.”

    The minister recalled that some days earlier the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of World Athletics had commended Nigeria for its zero-tolerance stance against doping.

    The body also noted the seriousness Nigeria has now attached to its anti-doping campaign.

    “Our increased number of tests and drive to do things right are some of the things you should reflect at this Games.

    “So, as you leave for the Commonwealth Games, remember to be good ambassadors of our dear country and strive to do us proud,” Dare added.

    The Games is scheduled to begin on Thursday and end on Aug. 8 with about 72 countries expected to participate.(

  • Southampton sign striker Adams from Birmingham

    Southampton have signed forward Che Adams from Birmingham City on a five-year deal, the Premier League club said on Monday.
    Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but British media reported Southampton paid Birmingham 15 million pounds ($18.95 million) for the 22-year-old forward, who was short-listed for the Championship player of the year last season.
    Adams registered 22 goals and six assists in 48 appearances for Birmingham last season.
    “Che fits the profile of player we want to bring to Southampton and is very driven to show what he can do at the highest level,” Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl told the club’s website here
    “We have been monitoring his progress for some time now. He has shown a desire to join us above all other clubs, which shows the positive reputation Southampton has built for developing young players.”
    Adams is Southampton’s second major signing ahead of the 2019-20 season, following the arrival of Malian winger Moussa Djenepo.
    “They are both young, dynamic players with the level of enthusiasm and hunger we are looking for that can help us improve as a team,” Hasenhuttl said.

  • Birmingham set to host 2022 Commonwealth Games

    Birmingham is set to be officially announced as the host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games on Thursday.

    It was the only interested city to submit a bid before the original 30 September deadline but was deemed “not fully compliant” by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).

    The CGF then gave rivals until 30 November to apply.

    Earlier this month the CGF reiterated it needed “further clarification on issues” before choosing a host city.

    But the BBC understands Birmingham has now finally prevailed in its attempt to stage the £750m showpiece, the most expensive sports event in Britain since the London 2012 Olympics.

    The bidding process has been beset with problems, with the South African city of Durban originally awarded the Games in 2015 before being stripped of the event in March because it did not meet the CGF criteria.

    Birmingham beat Liverpool in September to be Britain’s candidate city and the bid subsequently received government backing.

    As part of its bid, Birmingham has proposed to create the UK’s largest permanent athletics stadium, supplemented by four indoor arenas.

    BBC Sports

  • Government confirms Birmingham, to host 2022 Commonwealth Games

    Birmingham’s bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games has been officially backed by the government.

     

    Birmingham beat Liverpool earlier in September as Britain’s candidate city.

     

    The cost of staging the event is expected to be at least £750m, which would be the most expensive sports event in Britain since London 2012.

     

    Announcing Birmingham will be the UK’s official candidate city.

     

    Culture Secretary, Karen Bradley, said “The Government believes it would provide value for money and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham would be brilliant. It would showcase the best of Britain to the world and make the entire country proud.”