TheCable

The federal government has congratulated Tobi Amusan for setting a new African women’s indoor record in 60-meter hurdles. 

On Saturday, Amusan clocked 7.77 seconds to win the women’s 60-meter hurdle at the Astana Indoor Meet, Kazakhstan.

The 26-year-old retired the 7.82-second record set by Gloria Alozie in Madrid, Spain, in 1999.

In a tweet on his X account, John Enoh, the minister of sports development, said Amusan’s achievement is due to her hard work and commitment, and she exemplifies “what true athleticism looks like”.

He added that the country is proud of the former world champion.

“Congratulations, Tobi Amusan on setting the African women’s indoor record in 60-meter hurdles at the Astana Indoor Meet, Kazakhstan,” the tweet reads.

“You’ve shown us all what true athleticism looks like. We’re so proud of your amazing accomplishment. Your sports achievement is a testament to your hard work and commitment. Congratulations Superstar. You coasted home in 7.77secs to set a new African record, thus erasing Glory Alozie’s 7.82 secs established since 1999. Congratulations again.”

The performance in Kazakhstan was Amusan’s opening race of the new athletics season following the bitter-sweet end of her 2023 campaign.

During the lead-up to the 2023 World Athletics Championships, she was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unity (AIU) for allegedly “missing three tests in 12 months”.

Her participation in the world championship was in jeopardy until she was cleared of the charge three days before the competition.

Amusan failed to defend her world title in Budapest after she finished sixth in the final at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary.

She, however, emerged from the controversy to win her third consecutive Diamond League trophy.

Amusan, who broke the world 100-meter hurdles in 2022, will hope for her first-ever Olympic medal when the games commence in Paris in June.