By Daily Sports Nigeria on September 18, 2025

Udodi Onwuzurike kept Nigeria’s hopes alive at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships after qualifying for the men’s 200 metres semi-finals on Wednesday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The 22-year-old, Nigeria’s second-fastest ever man over the distance this year, produced a composed run in heat three, finishing second behind Olympic medallist Kenneth Bednarek of the United States.

Bednarek took first place in 19.98s, while Onwuzurike crossed the line in 20.27s. South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile also progressed after clocking the same inal stage for the first time in his career. He delivered on that target, holding his form well off the bend and keeping Bednarek in his sights through the final 100 metres.

His reaction time of 0.135s was the sharpest in the field, giving him the platform to hold off late charges from Dambile and Switzerland’s William Reais, who recorded a season’s best of 20.38s but fell short of qualification.

The former NCAA and World U-20 champion, who boasts a personal best of 19.76s and a season’s best of 20.17s, will now line up in Thursday’s semi-final against some of the event’s biggest names.

Drawn in lane five, he will face defending world champion Noah Lyles of the United States, who has already run 19.63s this year and is chasing a fourth consecutive title.

Also in the line-up are Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, the European champion with a best of 19.73s, Canada’s Andre De Grasse, the Olympic gold medallist from Tokyo 2020, and Jamaica’s Adrian Kerr, who has run 20.09s this season.

Zimbabwe’s Tapiwanashe Makarawu, who set a personal best of 19.84s earlier this year, and Dambile will also be in the field, adding further depth to a formidable contest. Onwuzurike arrives in the semi-final with growing experience at the highest level. A semi-finalist at the Paris Olympics, he has since sharpened his craft with two Diamond League appearances this season in preparation for Tokyo.

His progression is also a boost for Nigeria, who are looking to build on Tobi Amusan’s silver medal in the women’s 100m hurdles, their only podium in Tokyo so far. Ezekiel Nathaniel has also advanced to the men’s 400m hurdles final, but the rest of the team have exited earlier than hoped, leaving Onwuzurike among the country’s last remaining contenders.

Source Punch Ng

Posted September 18, 2025

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