Metro

Olympics: Onwuzurike in 200m semis after utilising repechage opportunity

Chudi Onwuzurike on Tuesday at the Stade de France in Paris qualified for the semi-finals of the ongoing Olympic Games men’s 200 metres semi-finals.

The 21-year-old had first failed to qualify on Monday.

This was after he could only finish fifth from lane 2 of heat 2 in the event’s round 1.

He had a time of 20.55 seconds, finishing out of the top three who directly qualified for the semi-finals, but qualifying for the repechage round.

On Tuesday by noon, he utilised the chance to still enter the semi-finals.

This was from the repechage round which involved nearly all of those who failed to make it to the semi-finals from Monday’s six heats.

Ranked number one and running from lane 6, he ran 20.51 seconds to win heat 1 and advance to Wednesday’s semi-finals, alongside five others.

Speaking after Monday’s race, Onwuzurike had said Tuesday was another opportunity for him to fulfill a dream.

”I know it’s going to be hard, but it is an opportunity I am grabbing with both hands. I know I can do it, and I will do my best,” he had promised.

Earlier on Monday, the repechage round was not favourable for Chidi Okezie who finished last in the round’s heat 2 in the men’s 400m.

He ran a time of 45.92 to finish fifth and fail to utilise the second opportunity he got to reach the semi-finals.

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