The nine-day event runs from September 13–21 at the Japan National Stadium, featuring 14 stadium sessions across 49 disciplines.
The stage is set for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, with African athletes among those tipped to shine on the global stage.
The nine-day event runs from September 13–21 at the Japan National Stadium, featuring 14 stadium sessions across 49 disciplines (24 women’s events, 24 men’s events and one mixed event).
Athletes will also compete in six road events, to be held on four separate mornings.
“We are thrilled to be returning to Tokyo with the biggest stars of our sport who will light up the iconic stadium across nine days of awe-inspiring competition,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
“They are sure to delight fans from Japan and around the world with their breath-taking performances.”
Team Kenya’s co-captain and 800m women’s world champion Mary Moraa said they are determined to deliver.
“We are really ready,” she said in a video shared by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya.
“We are going there to fight and come back with good results. We are going to bring those medals back home,” added Moraa, who will be out to defend her title.
Her co-captain, former world javelin champion and Olympic silver medalist Julius Yego, nicknamed “YouTube Man” for learning the sport on YouTube echoed her confidence.
“The team is ready to fight for glory and carry Team Kenya’s flag with pride,” he said, adding that his first target will be to qualify for the finals before mounting a medal push.
Other big names in Team Kenya include Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala, 800m Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, 1500m world record holder Faith Kipyegon and 5000m world record holder Beatrice Chebet.
Kenyan, Ugandan and Ethiopian athletes are expected to dominate the middle and long distance athletics events throughout the championships.
Meanwhile, Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo is leading a 12-member Botswana squad in the championships. They will compete in 7 events.
The World Athletics Championships are held every two years, with 2025 being the 20th edition.
During the 2023 edition in Budapest, Hungary, Kenya finished fifth overall and top in Africa with 10 medals.
