South Africa still searching for medal at World Champs

Sinesipho Dambile is now South Africa’s only remaining realistic hope for a medal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo qualifying for the men’s 200m final on Thursday.

The 23-year-old secured his spot by finishing third in his semi-final.

Meanwhile, 400m SA champion, Zakithi Nene, missed out on a podium finish, placing fifth in the final with a time of 44.55 seconds. Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi made history by winning gold, becoming his country’s first-ever athletics world champion.

In the 200ms, Wayde van Niekerk was eliminated after he finished fourth place in the first semi-final, with a time of 20.12 seconds.

Noah Lyles remains the favourite for the 200m title after cruising to a world-leading 19.51 in Dambile’s heat. Jamaican Bryan Levell won the second semi-final in 19.78, ahead of Botswana’s Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo who clocked 19.95.

South Africa faced further heartbreak in the women’s 800m as Prudence Sekgodiso pulled up during her heat with what appeared to be a hamstring injury and was unable to finish the race.

Sports can be brutal..

World 800m indoor Champion was Prudence Sekgodiso 🇿🇦 was inconsolable after failing to qualify for the Semi Finals. ( DNF)

Prudence has had a great season,

🎙️“ I had done everything possible to be ready for the world Champs…..” pic.twitter.com/4obZDw1IaC

— Lynne Wachira (@WachiraLynne) September 18, 2025

Written by: Ntsako Mukhari