Sports Groove

By Maxwell Kumoye    Nigerian athletes delivered a sensational display at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville over the weekend, as Kanyinsola Ajayi, Samuel Ogazi, and Temitope Adeshina stormed to national titles in record-breaking fashion. Sprint sensation Ajayi produced one of the defining moments of the championships, blazing to victory in the men’s 60m in 6.45 seconds, equalling both the African record and the NCAA collegiate record while representing the Auburn Tigers track and field. The Nigerian surged clear in a stacked final to defeat American rival Jelani Watkins, who claimed silver in 6.48s.  Ajayi had earlier matched the collegiate mark during the season and repeated the feat in the championship race, becoming the first athlete this year to equal the record twice. Compatriot Israel Okon also featured strongly in the final, finishing fifth in 6.57s. In the men’s 400m, Ogazi produced another historic performance, p...

Double Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones has made a triumphant transition to boxing, securing a second-round knockout in Derby. After two decades on the mats, the Welsh star delivered a clinical display, flooring her opponent with precision hooks. Competing in her professional boxing debut at the Misfits Duel 2 in Derby last weekend, Jade Jones secured a knockout victory over American opponent Egypt Criss. Jones needed less than two rounds to prove her pedigree, ending the contest with three successive left hooks that floored her opponent. The 32-year-old from Flint has dedicated the past year to this fresh challenge, aiming to fulfill her ambitious goal of becoming a world champion in two different sports. Training under the guidance of former professional Stephen Smith at Liverpool's 4 Corners Gym, Jones showed the same distance control and timing that earned her Olympic titles in London and Rio. She has drawn significant motivation from her former roommate and un...

The US bobsledder, a double medallist at the Milano Cortina, Kaillie Humphries, presented the country's president with the 'Order of Ikkos' at the White House this week in recognition of his support as a personal mentor, sparking controversy within parts of the sporting community. "I want to recognise the support you have shown women in sport within the Olympic movement. In particular, I would like to thank you for standing up for biological women competing in women's sports, for keeping the playing field safe, and for allowing fair competition," said Kaillie Humphries, who returned to the Olympic podium at the age of 40 a month ago, having previously won gold at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi while competing for Canada. Born in Calgary, Humphries chose to compete for the United States in 2019, winning the nation's first Olympic gold in monobob. The American has an extremely high sporting profile due...

Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile announced on Saturday that the fourth and fifth rounds of the season, scheduled for April, have been suspended to prioritise safety and wellbeing, with no replacements planned for now. The first event was scheduled to take place in Bahrain from 10-12 April, with the 'Grand Circus' due to move to Saudi Arabia a week later. However, the instability affecting the Middle East since 28 February, when the United States and Israel attacked Iran, resulting in the death of supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has influenced global decisions and, to a large extent, the staging of major sporting events. "After careful evaluation, and due to the current situation in the Middle East region, it has been confirmed that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April," the FIA said in a statement issued hours before Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix. The next races of the season are expected to be the J...

The roadmap for Mixed Martial Arts in Africa just received a high-octane boost as the Federation of International Mixed Martial Arts officially earned the endorsement of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa. This landmark recognition, confirmed following the General Assembly in Angola, represents a foundational shift intended to accelerate the sport's journey toward the Olympic Games while ensuring the safety and professional development of African athletes. Under the leadership of FIMMA President Gordon Tang and ANOCA President Mustapha Berraf, the two organizations are uniting to foster a new generation of talent. The partnership is built on a shared commitment to youth participation and the strengthening of technical capacities across the continent. By aligning with national Olympic committees, FIMMA ensures that MMA development adheres to the strict principles of good governance, ethics, and inclusion that are synonymous with the Olympic movement...

The United States president stated one thing and then the other last Thursday regarding the Asian country's nonparticipation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in June, amid instability caused by the ongoing war between both nations. Donald Trump expanded on comments published the previous Wednesday by the President of the International Federation of Association Football, Gianni Infantino, on his social media channels following a conversation with the US leader, in which it was stated that the football team would be warmly received in the country to compete in the World Cup. "The Iran national football team is welcome at the World Cup, but I really don't believe it is appropriate for them to be there, for their own life and safety," Trump added in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. Iran is one of the 48 teams that have qualified for the tournament, which will be staged across three host nations — the United States, Canada and Mexico. However, t...

Swimming's governing body is to enhance athlete safety in open-water competitions, launching a comprehensive Request for Proposal this week to commission new research on Safe Maximum Water Temperature Limits. World Aquatics currently sets a maximum water temperature limit of 31.0°C for open water swimming competitions. This standard was established following comprehensive research conducted by the University of Otago in 2013 for the global federation, World Triathlon, and the International Olympic Committee. This testing examined swimmers completing swims of various durations (20, 60, and 120 minutes) at water temperatures ranging from 20°C to 32°C under outdoor-relevant ambient conditions. Now, the federation has launched a fresh call for updated research in a proactive approach to athlete safety, noting that thermal stress in aquatic sports requires a specialised understanding, distinct from land-based endurance activities. The project aims to address several critical...

The Executive Committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency on Thursday decided to limit confirmation procedures for substances related to modafinil for six months due to non-compliance with the International Standard for Laboratories. Following a recommendation received on 4 March from its Laboratory Expert Advisory Group, WADA officials made the decision on Thursday, which may be appealed by the Polish laboratory to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 21 days of receipt. During this period, the lab may continue to carry out its usual anti-doping activities. However, all routine samples requiring confirmation analysis of substances related to modafinil must be securely transported to another WADA-accredited laboratory. WADA is responsible for accrediting and reaccrediting anti-doping testing facilities, thereby ensuring that they maintain the highest quality standards. This monitoring process is carried out in conjunction with an assessment by the International Organisat...

Three members of the women's national football team who had applied for asylum in Australia have decided to go back to Iran, the government said on Saturday. Authorities granted humanitarian visas to seven Iranian players last week after they requested asylum, saying they feared persecution if they returned home after declining to sing the national anthem during a match at the AFC Women's Asian Cup. So far, four of the seven footballers have chosen to leave Australia, while another reversed her earlier decision last week. "After telling Australian officials they ⁠had made this decision the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options," Tony Burke said in a statement. "While the Australian Government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions. Australians should be proud that it was in our country that these women exper...