2025 World Championship: Enekwechi Misses Podium Finish

2025 World Championship: Enekwechi Misses Podium Finish

Sampson Adedeji

Nigeria’s shot put star, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, narrowly missed out on a medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, finishing fifth in the men’s shot put final on Saturday night, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The 31-year-old, who had qualified for the final with a 20.83m throw, improved significantly in the medal round but his best mark of 21.52m was not enough to secure a place on the podium.

New Zealand’s Tom Walsh claimed gold with a massive 22.32m effort, while Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri took silver (22.19m).

Mexico’s Uziel Muñoz produced a personal best of 21.95m to clinch bronze, with reigning Olympic champion Ryan Crouser of the USA finishing fourth (21.88m).

The American-born Nigerian has been one of Africa’s most reliable throwers in recent years, winning silver at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games and gold at the 2022 African Championships.

His fifth-place finish in Tokyo equals Nigeria’s best-ever result in the men’s shot put at the World Championships, underlining his status as one of the country’s most accomplished field athletes.

With the Paris 2025 Diamond League finale and next year’s Olympic Games on the horizon, Enekwechi will aim to build on this performance and finally break into the medal ranks on the world stage.