Onwuzurike storms into 200m semifinals

Nigeria’s Udodi Onwuzurike kept his Tokyo 2025 dreams alive on Wednesday as he cruised into the men’s 200m semifinals at the World Athletics Championships.

Onwuzurike, the country’s fastest man this year in the distance, clocked 20.27s to finish second behind America’s Kenneth Bednarek, who won the heat in 19.98s.

It was a tight finish, with South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile also recording 20.27s to place third after a false start scare.

The 22-year-old Nigerian now heads into tomorrow’s semifinal where he faces a stacked field including world champion Noah Lyles, Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and Dambile.

With his form, Onwuzurike will be eyeing a place in the final and possibly history for Nigeria.