By Amaechi Agbo

The minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has disclosed that the 2019 World Athletics Championship holding in Doha, capital of Qatar would signpost Nigeria’s performances at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

The minister stated this on Friday after the opening ceremony of the championship.

Mr Dare who returned to the country after addressing the 74th United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States on Thursday, noted that Nigeria has abundant talents adding that the athletes representing the country at the championship will do the country proud.

A total of 25 athletes are res presenting Nigeria at the Doha 2019 World Championship.

“The Prestigious World Athletics Championships kicked off today (Friday) in Doha. Nigeria is represented there my 25 talented athletes. The outcome from Doha will largely signpost our chances at the 2020 Olympics. I wish Team Nigeria the very best,” the minister said.

The 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships is the seventeenth edition of the biennial, global athletics competition organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

It is held between 27 September and 6 October 2019 in Doha, Qatar at the renovated multi-purpose Khalifa International Stadium .

Nearly 2000 athletes from 209 nations compete in a total of 49 athletics events over the ten-day competition, comprising 24 events each for men and women, plus a mixed relay .

There will be 43 track and field events, 4 race-walking events, and 2 marathon road running events.

It is the first edition of the competition under its rebranded name, having previously been known as the World Championships in Athletics. It will be the first time the competition has been held in the Middle East and also the first time it will be held in October. Due to the hot climate, there will be no morning sessions and events will be held in the late afternoon onwards. Long-distance road events are scheduled to start around midnight local time.