Nigerian shot put star Chukwuebuka Enekwechi launched his 2026 campaign with a commanding gold medal performance at the Orlen Cup in Łódź. The reigning African record holder registered a powerful 20.82m toss to claim the top spot at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver event. This victory marks a significant breakthrough for Enekwechi in Poland, as he finally secured first place after finishing as the runner-up in both the 2024 and 2025 editions of this specific meeting.
The Nigerian powerhouse outclassed a competitive international field, leaving Romania’s Andrei Toader in second place with a mark of 20.55m. Armin Sinančević of Serbia rounded out the podium with a 19.93m effort, while local favorite Szymon Mazur finished fourth for Poland. Enekwechi’s dominant display confirms his elite status on the global circuit and sets a high standard for his rivals as the indoor season gains momentum ahead of major international championships later this year.
Enekwechi brings a decorated resume to the 2026 season, including two African Games titles and a silver medal from the 2018 Commonwealth Games. His consistent ability to open his season with marks exceeding 20 meters underscores his reliability as Africa’s premier thrower. While Zuzanna Maślana secured the women’s title for the host nation, Enekwechi’s performance stood out as the highlight of the men’s field events, providing the Nigerian athletics community with an early reason to celebrate in the new year.
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