Nigeria’s Udodi Onwuzurike kept the country’s medal hopes alive at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships after advancing to the men’s 200 metres semi-finals on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old, Nigeria’s second-fastest man over the distance this year, delivered a composed performance in heat three, finishing second behind Olympic medallist Kenneth Bednarek of the United States. Bednarek won the race in 19.98 seconds, with Onwuzurike clocking 20.27s. South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile also progressed after recording the same time.
Competing in his first senior global semi-final, Onwuzurike held his form strongly off the bend, keeping Bednarek within range down the home straight. His sharp reaction time of 0.135s — the fastest in the field — helped him fend off late challenges from Dambile and Switzerland’s William Reais, who set a season’s best of 20.38s but failed to qualify.
A former NCAA and World U-20 champion, Onwuzurike holds a personal best of 19.76s and has run 20.17s this season. He now faces an imposing semi-final line-up on Thursday, drawn in lane five against some of the world’s top sprinters.
Defending world champion Noah Lyles of the United States, who has already run 19.63s this season, leads the field as he chases a fourth successive world title. Also competing are Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, the European champion with a best of 19.73s, Olympic champion Andre De Grasse of Canada, Jamaica’s Adrian Kerr (20.09s this year), Zimbabwe’s Tapiwanashe Makarawu (PB 19.84s), and Dambile.
For Onwuzurike, the appearance comes with growing experience at the highest level. A semi-finalist at the Paris Olympics, he has sharpened his form with two Diamond League outings this season in preparation for Tokyo.
His progression provides a lift for Team Nigeria, who have endured mixed fortunes at the championships. Tobi Amusan’s silver medal in the women’s 100m hurdles remains their only podium finish so far, while Ezekiel Nathaniel has reached the men’s 400m hurdles final. The rest of the squad have already exited, leaving Onwuzurike among the country’s few remaining contenders.
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