Warholm wins 400m hurdles, World Athletics Championships 2023 Day 5 HIGHLIGHTS: Kerr upsets Ingebrigtsen in 1500m final; India’s Parul Chaudhary, Jeswin Aldrin reach finals

That’s curtains on the fifth day of action from the World Athletics Championships.

Some positives for India. We have out first two finalists in Jeswin Aldrin and Parul Chaudhary in Long Jump and 3000m steeplechase, respectively.

A thrilling finish to the day too. Karsten Warholm srtrolled to victory in the men’s 400m hurdles final. USA’s Katie Moon and Australia’s Nina Kennedy shared the Women’s Pole Vault gold.

The shocker was in the 1500m final where Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s wait for the Worlds gold was extended by Britain’s Josh Kerr who stole the title at the final stretch of the race.

1. Karsten Warholm - 46.89

2. Kyron McMaster 47.34

3. Rai Benjamin 47.56

A solid start for Warholm but Benjamin pushes him inside him during the early stages. Dos Santos falters in the final stretch and loses out on the podium. McMaster edges out Benjamin to the silver in the final 50 metres of the race.

Right then. We move to the final event of the night. There’s been thrill and there’s been upsets too. And we have three potential candidates in this race that promise to offer the same. Rai Benjamin. Alison Dos Santos. Karsten Warholm. Brace yourselves, folks!

Katie Moon and Nina Kennedy share the spoils. It’s a gold for the Australian and the American.

They have a chat about having a jump off but settle for the shared medal in the end at 4.90m. The bronze goes to Finland’s Wilma Murto at 4.80m.

1. Marileidy Paulino - 48.76 (NR)

2. Natalia Kaczmarek - 49.57

3. Sada Williams - 49.60

Paulino bosses the final. She gets into a clear lead after the second bend and then races home to victory by nearly a one second margin. She was back-to-back silver medallist before today but gets the elusive prize.

Both Katie Moon and Nina Kennedy fail to clear 4.95m on the first asking. If both fail to clear the distance on the first asking, the gold medal will be shared.

We have another gold medal up for grabs. Marileidy Paulino, the silver medallist in Eugene, is clearly the favourite to get to gold.

Katie Moon says hang on, the competition is not over just yet. She comes in and clears 4.90. The final shootout between the two goes on.

Nina Kennedy clears 4.90 in the third asking. She is the world leader and in the gold medal spot. Katie Moon needs to clear the bar now to carry on in the contest.

1. Josh Kerr (GBR) - 3:29.38

2. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) - 3:29.65

3. Narve Gilje Nordas (NOR) - 3:29.68

JOSH KERR WINS THE RACE! STUNNING! ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! INGEBRIGTSEN IS SHOCKED.

The British runner takes the lead around the final bend and makes his way past the Norway runner. Nordas too makes a final flourishing dash to deny the bronze to Abel Kipsang.

Laros moves into third ahead of Kipsang. Ingebrigtsen and Kerr fighting for the top place.

Two laps left and the Norway runner is still first. Kipsand closing in behind him though. As is Josh Kerr.

Ingebrigtsen makes his intent clear right away. We are used to seeing him hang back and make the dash later on in the race. But today, he is leading after 500 metres.

Abel Kipsang, Yareg Nuguse and Josh Kerr. This trio will push till the very end to get that title away from the favourite Ingebrigtsen. Can the Olympic champion from Norway get to the one medal his heart most desires? We’re about to find out.

The athletes are on the track. They get their warm up runs in before the start of the final.

Katie Moon and Nina Kennedy locked in the battle for the gold. Both unable to clear 4.90m on their first attempts.

1. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn - 12.41

2. Nia Ali - 12.49

3. Danielle Williams - 12.50 (q)

Camacho-Quinn was in the lead and set to end first but Nia Ali steals the direct spot from Danielle Williams in the very last second. Williams still gets in to the final through and so does Ditaji Kambundji.

Australia’s Nina Kennedy jumps to the top spot with a clearance of 4.85m. Her personal best and a national record.

Katie Moon, who had struggled to get over 4.65, first leaps over 4.80 and then 4.85. She goes into the second place.

1. Tobi Amusan - 12.56

2. Ackera Nugent - 12.60

A huge let down for Masai Russell. The American started off the best and was beginning to take a lead until she crashed into the second hurdle. Lost all momentum after that and ended up not finishing the race.

1. Kendra Harrisson - 12.33

2. Devynne Charlton - 12.49

Harrisson steams away in the final stretch to get to the final. Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji just 0.01 seconds slower than Charlton, finishes third. She will have to wait for the other heats to see if she can make the non-automatic cut.

Three heats and the top two from each make it to the final, along with two non-automatic qualifiers.

The reigning champion Katie Moon falters in clearing the height of 4.65m. The lead right now is with Nina Kennedy, Tina Sutej and Wilma Murto who have cleared 4.80m.

1. Jackline Chepkoech 9:16.41

2. Zerfe Wondemagegn - 9:16.97

3. Luiza Gega - 9:17.71

4. Alice Finot - 9:20.27

5. Olivia Gurth - 9:24.28

1. Faith Cherotich - 9:19.55

2. Sembo Almayew - 9:19.60

3. Peruth Chemutai - 9:20.03

4. Marusa Zrimsek - 9:21.79

5. Parul Chaudhary - 9:24.29

Parul Chaudhary has done it! She finishes fifth and reaches the final. She makes it to the finish line in 9:24.29, smashing her personal best by a margin of five seconds.

Parul Chaudhary in fifth place with two laps to go. Can she make it to the final?

India’s Parul Chaudhary in the seventh place at the half way mark. She is just two seconds away and still within reach of the top five places.

Parul Chaudhary stays in the first pack of runners at the end of the first lap.

Parul Chaudhary, the Asian Champion, will be in the second Heat which starts in just a few moments.

1. Winfred Mutile Yavi - 9:19.18

2. Beatrice Chepkoech - 9:19.22

3. Lomi Muleta - 9:20.13

4. Courtney Wayment 9:20.60

5. Marwa Bouzayani 9:23.07

Olympic champion Katie Moon makes the first clearance of 4.50 metres look too easy.

1. Sifan Hassan - 14:32.29

2. Faith Kipyegon - 14:32.31

3. Ejgayhu Taye - 14:33.23

4. Freweyni Helu - 14:34.16

5. Lillian Rengeruk - 14:36.61

6. Nozomi Tanaka - 14:37.98

7. Nadia Bettocletti - 14:41.78

8. Laura Galvan - 14:43.94

Faith Kipyegon and Sifan Hassan make the final dash and finish the race neck and neck. The latter just getting in ahead by 0.002 seconds.

Sifan Hassan is in the lead at the half way mark. Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka sandwiched between Hassan and Faith Kipyegon. The gap, though, between the top three is very little. Setting up nicely for a close finish.

Canada’s Camryn Rogers (73.95) and Azerbaijan’s Hanna Skydan (77.10) also make it to the final with automatic qualification.

1. Beatrice Chebet - 14:57.70

2. Gudaf Tsegay - 14:57.72

3. Margeret Kipkemboi - 15:00.10

4. Agate Caune - 15:00.48

5. Elise Cranny - 15:01.53

6. Medina Eisa - 15:03.07

7. Alicia Monson - 15:03.35

8. Maureen Koster - 15:05.13

Three people ultimaltely managed to pull away ahead of Caune but the teenager still ends in the fourth spot which is good enough to make the final.

The pack catching up to Caune as we head to the last lap. Gudaf Tsegay is the first one behind Caune.

The qualifying of Women’s Hammer Throw is also underway. USA’s DeAnna Price and Italy’s Sara Fantini have made it to the final after breaching the automatic mark. Price gets a throw of 76.25 while Fantini gets 73.28.

Nine laps to go, and guess Caune’s lead? 59.1 seconds!!! Can the Latvian sustain this pace is the question.

Latvia’s Agate Caune springing a surprise here. She has ventured forward ahead of the rest of the pack. She has a clear 10 second lead after the 1000 metre mark.

The evening session is underway. We start with the first of the two Heats in the Women’s 5000m. 20 racers in each and the top eight will advance to the final. We will be getting another glimpse of the Faith Kipyegon and Sifan Hassan tussle in the second Heat.

India’s Parul Chaudhary will be taking the track in the 2nd Heat of the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase. Her personal best is at 9:29.51 and she will have to take it quite a bit higher if she hopes to get into the top five of the Heat and reach the final.

Azeddine Habz (FRA)

Neil Gourley (GBR)

Yared Nuguse (USA)

Abel Kipsang (KEN)

Josh Kerr (GBR)

Cole Hocker (USA)

Narve Gilje Nordas (NOR)

Mario Garcia (ESP)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR)

Reynold Cheruiyot (KEN)

Isaac Nader (POR)

Niels Laros (NED)

The final eight athletes are set to take for the Worlds crown later today. The two favorites in the event are USA’s Rai Benjamin and Norway’s Karsten Warholm. Keep an eye out on the outer most lane for too Alison Dos Santos.

Joshua Abuakau (GER)

Trevor Bassitt (USA)

Rasmus Magi (EST)

Roshawn Clarke (JAM)

Rai Benjamin (USA)

Karsten Warholm (NOR)

Kyron McMaster (IVB)

Alison Dos Santos (BRA)

Sha’carri Richardson stormed to the gold in the Women’s 100m final earlier in the World Championships. Her 200m dash today shows she’s out to clinch a second gold too.

Sweden’s Armand Duplantis did not break a sweat during the Men’s Pole Vault qualifying round on Wednesday.

The bronze medallist from the 100m, Zharnel Hughes breezed into the 200m semifinal on Wednesday.

EVENING SESSION

10:30PM IST - Women’s Hammer Throw Qualification Group A

10:32PM IST - Women’s 5000m Heats

10:40PM IST - Women’s Triple Jump Qualification

11PM IST - Women’s Pole Vault Final

11:23PM IST - Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Heats

12:05AM IST - Women’s Hammer Throw Qualification Group B

12:15AM IST - Women’s 100m Hurdles Semifinal

12:45AM IST - Men’s 1500m Final

1:05AM IST - Women’s 400m Final

1:20AM IST- Men’s 400m Hurdles Final

REPORT

Newly-crowned world 100m champion Noah Lyles on Wednesday cruised into the semifinals of the 200m in his quest to become the first male athlete to win a world sprint double since Usain Bolt in 2015.

Lyles upset a host of 100m specialists to win gold on Sunday and looked comfortable coasting home in 20.05sec to win his qualifying heat in the 200m at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest. REPORT

EVENING SESSION

10:30PM IST - Women’s Hammer Throw Qualification Group A

10:32PM IST - Women’s 5000m Heats

10:40PM IST - Women’s Triple Jump Qualification

11PM IST - Women’s Pole Vault Final

11:23PM IST - Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Heats

12:05AM IST - Women’s Hammer Throw Qualification Group B

12:15AM IST - Women’s 100m Hurdles Semifinal

12:45AM IST - Men’s 1500m Final

1:05AM IST - Women’s 400m Final

1:20AM IST- Men’s 400m Hurdles Final

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Kenneth Bednarek (USA) - 20.01s

Alexander Ogando (DOM) - 20.14s

Alaba Olukunle Akintola - 20.54s

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Erriyon Knighton (USA) - 20.17s

Andre De Grasse (CAN) - 20.28s

Sinesipho Dambile (RSA) - 20.34s

Wayne Pinnock (JAM) - 8.54m WL

Jianan Wang (CHN) - 8.34m SB

Miltiadis Tentoglou (GRE) - 8.25m

Carey Mcleod (JAM) - 8.19m

Alejandro Parada (CUB) - 8.13m

Simon Ehammer (SUI) - 8.13m

William Williams (USA) - 8.13m

Tajay Gayle (JAM) - 8.12m

Radek Juska (CZE) - 8.10m

Marquis Dendy (USA) - 8.08m

Thobias Montler (SWE) - 8.03m

Jeswin Aldrin (IND) - 8.00m

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Towa Uzawa (JPN) - 20.34s

Courtney Lindsey (USA) - 20.39s

Rasheed Dwyer (JAM) - 20.40s

A lowly 6.70m effort from Sreeshankar in his third attempt. A dismal showing from the Indian long jumper places him 10th in the group.

Jeswin stands sixth as the Group B qualification round ends with only Carey Mcleod clearing the automatic qualification mark with his 8.19m leap. Four other athletes stand above Jeswin’s best effort of 8m in the group. Jeswin is currently 12th overall and stands on the brink of elimination.

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Brendon Rodney (CAN) - 20.14s SB

Renan Correa (BRA) - 20.44s

Shaun Maswanganyi (RSA) - 20.56s

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Letsile Tebogo (BOT) - 20.22s

Joseph Fahnbulleh (LBR) - 20.42s

William Reais (SUI) - 20.50s

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Noah Lyles (USA) - 20.05s

Andrew Hudson (JAM) - 20.25s

Ondrej Macik (CZE) - 20.40s

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Zharnel Hughes (GBR) - 19.99s

Aaron Brown (CAN) - 20.08s

Luxulo Adams (RSA) - 20.15s SB

Another ‘X’ against Jeswin’s name as he fouls in his third attempt as well. He stands with a best of 8m, which is the fifth-best in Group B and eighth overall.

A frustrating dip for Sreeshankar in his second attempt, falling to 7.66m from 7.74m.

The men’s 200m heat begins.

Automatic Qualification: First three of each heat (Q) plus three fastest times (q) qualify to Semi-Final

Jeswin Aldrin fouls in his second attempt. He is currently fourth in Group B with a jump left and fifth overall.

Sha’Carri Richardson (USA) - 22.16s

Gabby Thomas (USA) - 22.26s

Marie-Josée Ta Lou (CIV) - 22.26s SB

Anthonique Strachan (BAH) - 22.31s

Julien Alfred (LCA) - 22.31s

Daryll Neita (GBR) - 22.39s

Natalliah Whyte (JAM) - 22.44s

Kevona Davis (JAM) - 22.49s

Shericka Jackson (JAM) - 22.51s

Veronica Shanti Pereira (SGP) - 22.57s NR

Jaël Bestue (ESP) - 22.58s

Olivia Fotopoulou (CYP) - 22.65s PB

Favour Ofili (NGR) - 22.66s (q)

Bianca Williams (GBR) - 22.67s

Dalia Kaddari - 22.67s (q)

Jessika Gbai (CIV) - 22.78s

Adaejah Hodge - 22.82s (q)

Krystsina Tsimanouskaya - 22.88s (q)

Tasa Jiya (NED) - 22.97s

Polyniki Emmanouilidou (GRE) - 23.00s (q)

Gina Bass (GAM) - 23.02s (q)

Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) - 22.46s

Maboundou Kone (CIV) - 22.55s

Kayla White (USA) - 22.62s

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Gabby Thomas (USA) - 22.26s

Kevona Davis (JAM) - 22.49s

Tasa Jiya (NED) - 22.97s

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Julien Alfred (LCA) - 22.31s

Natalliah Whyte (JAM) - 22.44s

Bianca Williams (GBR) - 22.67s

An underwhelming start for M. Sreeshankar as he gets on with a 7.74m attempt in Group A of the Long Jump qualification. He is currently placed fifth in the group.

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Shericka Jackson (JAM) - 22.51s

Veronica Shanti Pereira (SGP) - 22.57s NR

Jessika Gbai (CIV) - 22.78s

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Sha’Carri Richardson (USA) - 22.16s

Marie-Josée Ta Lou (CIV) - 22.26s SB

Olivia Fotopoulou (CYP) - 22.65s PB

Jeswin Aldrin, who just lost his WL effort to Pinnock, starts with a 8m jump in Group B of the Long Jump qualification.

Jamaica’s Wayne Pinnock starts with a World Leading effort in the Long Jump! He bursts through with a 8.54m leap in his first attempt.

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Anthonique Strachan (BAH) - 22.31s

Daryll Neita (GBR) - 22.39s

Jaël Bestue (ESP) - 22.58s

The women’s 200m heats will begin shortly.

Automatic qualification: First three of each heat (Q) plus six fastest times (q) qualify to semifinal.

Annu Rani’s third attempt is a lacklustre 56.01, finishing with a best of 57.05m. She is currently placed eleventh in group A of the women’s javelin and is highly likely to miss out on the final.

Nia Akins (USA) - 1:59.19s

Habitam Alemu (ETH) - 1:59.36s

Catriona Bisset (AUS) - 1:59.46s

Keely Hodgkinson (Great Britain) - 1:59.53s

Athing Mu (USA) - 1:59.59s

Natoya Goule-Toppin (JAM) - 1:59.64

Halimah Nakaayi (UGA) - 1:59.68s

Jemma Reekie (GBR) - 1:59.71s

Prudence Sekgodiso (South Africa) - 1:59.72s

Adelle Tracey (JAM) - 1:59.82s SB

Mary Moraa (Kenya) - 1:59.89s

Noélie Yarigo (BEN) - 1:59.96s

Raevyn Rogers (USA) - 2:00.06s

Christina Hering (GER) - 2:00.06s SB

Anita Horvat (SLO) - 2:00.06s

Worknesh Mesele (Ethiopia) - 2:00.13s

Lore Hoffmann (SUI) - 2:00.14 SB

Bianka Keri (HUN) - 2:00.20s (q)

Rénelle Lamote (FRA) - 2:00.22s

Abbey Caldwell (AUS) - 2:00.29s

Jazz Shukla (CAN) - 2:00.30 PB (q)

Eloisa Coiro (ITA) - 2:00.36 (q)

Evellina Maatanen (Finland) - 2:00.41s

Flavia Maria De Lima (BRA) - 2:00.92s SB

Jeswin Aldrin and Murali Sreeshankar are first and second in the top lists for best outdoor jump this season—the first time two Indians will have that accomplishment going into the World Championships. Both have made it to Budapest after meeting the qualification standard and are in decent form as well.

Aldrin started off the year with a bang and a jump of 8.42m at the Indian Jumps Competition but endured a spell of poor form following a bout of COVID-19. He bounced back with a jump of 8.22m in Switzerland earlier this month, which is his biggest jump overseas.

Sreeshankar, meanwhile, cleared 8.37m in his last competition prior to the world championships to take silver at the Asian Championships in Thailand. The effort at the continental championships was the fifth time he has crossed the 8m barrier in seven tournaments this year. Having made the final and finished seventh at Eugene last year, Sreeshankar should be backing himself to do much better. On the basis of the current form, Aldrin should be aiming for a similar result. While Sreeshankar hasn’t had the best results in Europe—his best jump on the continent was 8.09m at the Paris Diamond League in June—both he and Aldrin will go in as potential medal winners. The only factor holding him and Aldrin back from a podium finish could simply be the fact that neither has medalled at a world-level event before.

Jeswin Aldrin

PB - 8.42m

SB - 8.42m

Previous best at World Championships - 20th (2022)

Target - Podium

M. Sreeshankar

PB - 8.41m

SB - 8.41m

Previous best at World Championships - seventh (2022)

Target – Podium

​

E03: Murali Sreeshankar on long jump, speed cubing and a Paris Olympics-Parotta sacrifice

Listen to this episode from What Google won't tell you - A Sports Podcast on Spotify. In this episode of What Google Won't Tell You, Jonathan Selvaraj and Ipsit Mohapatra speak to Asian Championships and Commonwealth Games silver medal-winning long jumper Murali Sreeshankar. Send in your feedback to sportstar@thehindu.co.in #IndianAthletics | #Athletics | #Sports | #SportsPodcast

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Athing Mu (USA) - 1:59.59s

Natoya Goule-Toppin (JAM) - 1:59.64

Lore Hoffmann (SUI) - 2:00.14 SB

Mondo Duplantis starts his pole vault qualification in Group A with a comfortable 5.55m clearance in his first attempt. Easy.

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Habitam Alemu (ETH) - 1:59.36s

Catriona Bisset (AUS) - 1:59.46s

Flavia Maria De Lima (BRA) - 2:00.92s SB

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Nia Akins (USA) - 1:59.19s

Jemma Reekie (GBR) - 1:59.71s

Anita Horvat (SLO) - 2:00.06s

Annu Rani starts with a 57.05m attempt in the women’s javelin Group A qualification. Well short of her SB and the automatic qualification as of now, Annu finds herself ninth after the first round of attempts from the 18 athletes in the group.

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Halimah Nakaayi (UGA) - 1:59.68s

Adelle Tracey (JAM) - 1:59.82s SB

Rénelle Lamote (FRA) - 2:00.22s

Austria’s Victoria Hudson (62.96m) and Australia’s Kathryn Mitchell (62.10m) begin the round with attempts over the automatic qualification mark.

Annu Rani will start in Group A of the women’s javelin qualification round.

Automatic qualifying mark: 61.50 (Q) or at least best 12 qualify to Final

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Noélie Yarigo (BEN) - 1:59.96s

Christina Hering (GER) - 2:00.06s SB

Abbey Caldwell (AUS) - 2:00.29s

The men’s pole vault group A qualification starts with America’s Christopher Nilsen, the world no. 2, beginning proceedings by clearing his first attempt at 5.35m. Armand Duplantis too will be in action in this group.

The automatic qualifying mark is 5.80 (Q) or at least the best 12 will qualify to the final.

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Mary Moraa (Kenya) - 1:59.89s

Raevyn Rogers (USA) - 2:00.06s

Worknesh Mesele (Ethiopia) - 2:00.13s

Here are the top three automatic qualifiers:-

Keely Hodgkinson (Great Britain) - 1:59.53s

Prudence Sekgodiso (South Africa) - 1:59.72s

Evellina Maatanen (Finland) - 2:00.41s

World Record: 1:53.28s (Jarmila Kratochvilova at Munchen in 1983)

World Championships Record: 1:54.68s (Jarmila Kratochvilova at Helsinki in 1983)

Olympic Record: 1:53.43s (Nadezhda Olizarenko at Moskva in 1980)

World-leading performance in 2023: 1:55.77s (Keely Hodgkinson at Diamond League Meeting in Paris in June)

The women’s 800m heats will open proceedings on Day 5. Seven heats with nine athletes each.

The first three of each heat (Q) plus the three fastest times (q) qualify to the semifinals.

Just two days before Neeraj Chopra competes in the most high-profile event of the year, the weight of the country’s track and field hopes rest once again on the 25-year-old’s broad shoulders.

World Athletics Championships: As he arrives in Budapest, Neeraj Chopra gets his game face on

Neeraj might be one of the favourites in the men’s javelin throw right now, but at his first World Championships back in 2017, he didn’t even make the final, finishing just outside the automatic qualification after trying to save energy for the finals.

Annu Rani will start in Group A of the women’s javelin qualification round. Here is the star list with PB and SB of the athletes.

• Kathryn Mitchell (AUS) - PB: 68.92, SB: 61.84
• Haruka Kitaguchi (JPN) - PB: 67.04, SB: 67.04
• Adriana Vilagos (SRB) - PB: 63.52, SB: 61.87
• Victoria Hudson (AUT) - PB: 64.68, SB: 64.05
• Maria Murillo (COL) - PB: 61.46, SB: 60.08
• Juleisy Angulo (ECU) - PB: 61.10, SB: 60.08
• Ariana Ince (USA) - PB: 64.38, SB: 59.95
• Momone Ueda (JPN) - PB: 61.75, SB: 60.54
• Kelsey-Lee Barber (AUS) - PB: 67.70, SB: 62.54
• Martina Ratej (SLO) - PB: 61.76, SB: 60.52
• Dilhani Lekamge (SRI) - PB: 60.93, SB: 60.93
• Anni-Linnea Alanen (FIN) - PB: 62.45, SB: 62.45
• Shlying Liu (CHN) - PB: 67.29, SB: 61.63
• Lina Muze-Sirma (LAT) - PB: 64.87, SB: 64.78
• Réka Szilagyi (HUN) - PB: 62.45, SB: 57.06
• Annu Rani (IND) - PB: 63.82, SB: 59.24
• Jo-Ane Van Dyk (RSA) - PB: 61.61, SB: 61.06
• Nicola Ogrodnikova (CZE) - PB: 67.40, SB: 61.75

A total of 56 athletes will be participating in the women’s 800m today across seven heats.

Here is a look at the top three contenders for gold in the Women’s 800m.

Athing Mu (USA) - Season best: 1:58:73s in New York, USA

Keely Hodgkinson (Great Britain) - Season best: 1:55:77s in Paris, France

Mary Moraa (Kenya) - Season best: 1:56:85 in Chorzow, Poland

Annu Rani just about qualified for the World Championships on the basis of her ranking, but she is a long way off her best. She has yet to make a throw over 60m this season—her worst showing in five years. Even her best of 59.24m came at the very start of the season and her most recent performance saw her only throw 54.76m at the Hylo Javelin meet earlier this month.

Thirty-two of the 36 competitors at the World Championships have thrown further than the Indian this year. Her chances of advancing to the final and getting a third top-eight finish at the World Championships are unlikely.

PB - 63.82m
SB - 59.24m
Previous best at World Championships - seventh (2022)
Target – Season’s best
World Leader - Haruka Kitaguchi (Japan) - 67.04m

MORNING SESSION

1:35PM IST - Women’s 800m Heats

1:45PM IST - Men’s Pole Vault Qualification

1:50PM IST - Women’s Javelin Throw Qualification Group A

2:45PM IST - Men’s Long Jump Qualification

2:50PM IST - Women’s 200m Heats

3:25PM IST - Women’s Javelin Throw Qualification Group B

3:45PM IST - Men’s 200m Heats

Women’s Javelin Throw Group A Qualification - 1:50PM IST - Annu Rani (Automatic qualifying mark - 61.50m or top 12 to qualify for final)

Men’s Long Jump Qualification - 2:45PM IST - M Sreeshankar, Jeswin Aldrin (Automatic qualifying mark - 8.15m or top 12 to qualify for final)

Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Heats - 11:38PM IST - Parul Chaudhary (First five in each heat qualify for final)

The World Athletics Championships 2023 is being live-streamed in India on Jio Cinema from August 19 to 27.