Enekwechi, Onwuzurike build Games momentum with podium finishes

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African record holder, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, and sprint star, Udodi Onwuzurike, boosted Nigeria’s build-up to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with third-place finishes at the Gyulai István Memorial – Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix in Budapest, Hungary.

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Enekwechi finished third in the men’s shot put with a best effort of 21.48 metres, as Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri won the event with a throw of 22.04 metres, while Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell claimed second place with 21.52 metres.

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Onwuzurike also made the podium, placing third in the men’s 200m in a time of 20.18 seconds, matching his season’s best. Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba won the race in 20.09 seconds, while Morocco’s Yassine Hssine claimed victory in a national record time of 19.92 seconds.

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The two results provide timely confidence for Team Nigeria as the country finalises preparations for the Glasgow Games.

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Elsewhere at the meeting, Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme won the men’s 100m in 9.99 seconds, the only athlete to dip under the 10-second mark, with Ghana’s Abdul-Rasheed Saminu second in 10.01 seconds and Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake third in 10.04 seconds.

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Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga also served notice to his Commonwealth rivals, winning the men’s 400m in a season’s best of 44.02 seconds.

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With athletes across the continent producing strong performances in Budapest, the race for medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games is shaping up to be keenly contested.

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