NIGERIA’S LOSS, QATAR’S GAIN: 18-year-old Sensation Smashes Asian Record As Nigerian Talents Ditch Nation!

The athletics world is in shock after a lightning-fast performance in Doha has reignited the heated debate over athlete "allegiance switching." 18-year-old Jabar Khamis has just set the track on fire, clocking a staggering 6.52s to win the men’s 60m at the Aspire Indoor Invitational.

Not only did Khamis shatter his Personal Best, but he also officially claimed the Asian U20 Record, signaling the arrival of a new global sprint king. However, the victory comes with a bitter pill for Nigerian fans: Khamis, alongside the rest of the podium finishers, is part of a massive talent drain from West Africa to the Gulf state.

The Race: A Clean Sweep of Nigerian Talent

The final was less of an international clash and more of a showcase of Nigerian-born speed running under different banners.

• 1st Place: Jabar Khamis (Qatar) – 6.52s (Asian U20 Record). The teenager was explosive out of the blocks, maintaining a lead that no one could close.

• 2nd Place: Farouk Aremu (Nigeria/Qatar) – 6.58s (PB). Aremu pushed Khamis all the way to the line, securing a massive Personal Best. Notably, while Khamis is officially clear to run for Qatar, Aremu is reportedly still finalizing his switch.

•  3rd Place: Abdullah Masoud (Qatar) – 6.67s. Rounding out the podium was another athlete whose registration history points directly back to Nigeria before his recent switch to the Qatari flag.

The "Allegiance" Controversy

The most eyebrow-raising detail of the night wasn't just the speed, but the paperwork. On the official timing website for the event, both Khamis and Aremu were initially registered as Nigerians.

Khamis has now officially made the jump, representing Qatar in the record books. This move mirrors a growing trend where top-tier Nigerian sprinters are recruited by Qatar to bolster their national team ahead of major championships like the Asian Games and the Olympics.

How Fast is 6.52s?

To put Jabar Khamis’s time into perspective:

• It is currently one of the fastest times in the world for the 2026 indoor season.

• It eclipses the previous Asian U20 mark, proving that Khamis is not just a regional star, but a world-class threat.

• In the senior category, a 6.52s would typically be enough to make the final of a World Indoor Championship.

Summary of Results: Aspire Indoor Invitational 60m Final

Rank	Athlete	Nation	Time	Note
1	Jabar Khamis	🇶🇦 QAT	6.52s	Asian U20 Record / PB
2	Farouk Aremu	🇳🇬/🇶🇦	6.58s	Personal Best
3	Abdullah Masoud	🇶🇦 QAT	6.67s	Allegiance Switch

Nigeria’s Sprint Crisis?

As these young stars continue to clock world-leading times for other nations, the Nigerian Athletics Federation (AFN) faces mounting pressure. With the talent pool in Nigeria deeper than ever, the lure of better facilities, funding, and international opportunities in Qatar is becoming impossible for many young athletes to resist.

Is Nigeria doing enough to keep its superstars? Or is the "Qatar Connection" the new reality of global athletics?