Nigeria’s sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan has set her sights on qualification for the World Ultimate Championships after opening her 2026 season with a strong start, following a gold-medal win at the African Championships and a podium finish at the Shanghai Diamond League.
The world record holder began her campaign by winning gold at the African Championships in Ghana on Wednesday before travelling directly to Shanghai, where she finished third in the women’s 100m hurdles on Saturday in 12.41s.
Despite the demanding schedule and limited recovery time, Amusan produced a competitive performance in a high-quality field led by Olympic champion Masai Russell, who won in a meeting record and world-leading 12.25s.
Devynne Charlton, the reigning world indoor champion, took second in 12.38s.
Amusan later admitted that fatigue and travel conditions affected her preparation, but she was pleased with her result and the way she handled the challenge.
“I am just incredibly excited to have finished in the top three,” she said after the race as quoted by Olympics.com.
She explained that arriving on the day of competition made conditions more difficult, but still described her performance as encouraging.
“I just arrived this morning and was exhausted. But the result was fabulous. Everyone is looking forward to the World Ultimate Championships, and so am I.
“Placing third today is a great season opener, I am looking forward to the upcoming meetings of this season,” she added.
The podium finish comes against the backdrop of a highly competitive women’s hurdles field, which included Olympic and world champions, as well as multiple Diamond League finalists.
Amusan, who remains one of the event’s most accomplished athletes with a world record of 12.12s, had already begun her season in strong form after winning gold at the African Championships earlier in the week.
Qualification for the World Ultimate Championships will depend on several pathways, including automatic entry for Olympic champions, reigning world champions, Diamond League Final winners, and athletes ranked among the top positions in the world rankings during the qualification window from September 2, 2025 to September 1, 2026.
With Olympic champion Masai Russell and world champion Ditaji Kambundji already securing automatic qualification routes, Amusan will be targeting ranking points and consistent Diamond League performances to ensure she remains among the leading contenders in the 100m hurdles.
Her early-season form, combined with a gold medal in Accra and a strong showing in Shanghai, offers an encouraging platform as she builds towards a demanding year on the international circuit.