Walaza rebounds from injury to be selected for World Athletics Championships

Young sprint star Bayanda Walza was a surprise inclusion in the 49-member SA team for the World Athletics Championships to be held in Tokyo, Japan, between September 13 and 21, after he had pulled up injured during the 100m at the Diamond League Final in Zurich last week.

The winner of the sprint double at the recent World University Games will only take part in one individual event, the men’s 100m, in Tokyo, despite also qualifying for the 200m. He will also not be part of the men’s 4X100m relay team.

Athletics South Africa announced the team of 32 men and 17 women for the world champs on Tuesday. It features eight national record holders, including Akani Simbine (100m), Tshepo Tshite (1 500m), Adriaan Wildschutt (10 000m), Antonio Alkana (110m hurdles), Elroy Gelant (marathon), Marione Fourie (100m hurdles), Ashley Erasmus (shot put) and Jessica Groenewald (35km race walk).

Wayde van Niekerk, the 400m world record holder and the only former world outdoor champion in the team will focus on the 200m event. Though she hasn't won a world outdoor title, world indoor champion Prudence Sekgodiso is also in the squad, having been a regular feature on the Diamond League circuit this season.

Aside from Van Niekerk, a former Olympic 400m champion, javelin thrower Jo-Ane du Plessis is the only other member of the team to have earned a medal in an individual event at the Olympic Games. She won silver at last year’s Olympic Games in Paris and has carried that form into this season, reaching the podium regularly at a number of Diamond League meetings.

Zakithi Nene will carry SA hopes of another men’s 400m medal, with the one-lap star also overcoming a minor injury scare that ruled him out of the Diamond League Final. He became the only South African, after Van Niekerk, to run the 400m in under 44 seconds in setting this year’s world leading time of 33.76.

The national squad also includes four relay teams – in the men's 4x100m, as well as the men's, women's and mixed 4x400m events. The men's 4x100m team will be eager to step on the podium after securing the silver medal in Paris and winning gold at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, earlier this season.

The men's and women's 4x400m squads will also be confident of challenging for podium places after earning gold and bronze respectively at the World Athletics Relays.

“We urge the athletes to remain focused, disciplined, and united as they take on the world’s best. Championships of this calibre demand not only physical strength but also mental resilience, and we are confident that our team will rise to the occasion,” said ASA president James Moloi. 

"South Africa stands behind you, and we believe your performances will inspire the next generation of athletes and reaffirm our place among the world’s athletics nations.”

The SA team for the World Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Tokyo 

Men: Akaani Simbine (100m), Bayanda Walaza (100m), Gift Leotlela (100m), Sinesipho Dambile (200m), Naeem Jack (200m), Wayde van Niekerk (200m), Zakithi Nene (400m), Lythe Pillay (400m), Tshepo Tshite (1 500m), Ryan Mphahlele (1500m), Adriaan Wildschutt (10 000m), Elroy Gelant (marathon), Mondray Barnard (110m hurdles), Antonio Alkana (110m hurdles), John Adesola (110m hurdles), Sabelo Dhlamini (400m hurdles), Kyle Rademeyer (pole vault), Brian Raats (high jump), Cheswill Johnson (long jump), Aiden Smith (shot put), Chris van Niekerk (shot put), Victor Hogan (discus), Douw Smit (javelin), Wayne Snyman (20km race walk), Bradley Nkoana (4X100m), Retshidisitswe Mlenga (4X100m), Abdurahman Karriem (4X100m), Shaun Maswanganyi (4X100m),  Udeme Okon (4X400m mixed), Gardeo Isaacs (4X400m mixed), Leendert Koekemoer (4X400m mixed), Mthi Mthimkulu (4X400m mixed).

Women: Shirley Nekhubui (400m), Miranda Coetzee (400m), Prudence Sekgodiso (800m), Charne Swart-Du Plessis (800m), Marione Fourie (110m hurdles), Zenéy van der Walt (400m hurdles), Rogail Joseph (400m hurdles), Miré Reinstorf (pole vault), Danielle Nolte (long jump), Ashley Erasmus (shot put), Miné de Klerk (shot put), Colette Uys (shot put), Jo-Ane du Plessis (javelin), Jessica Groenewalt (35km race walk), Marie Viljoen (4X400m mixed), Precious Molepo (4X400m mixed), Hannah van Niekerk (4X400m mixed).