Bahrain’s elite sprinter Kemi Adekoya hopes to build on worlds success

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s Kemi Adekoya is hoping to build on her spectacular showing at the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest this past week.

Although she came up one position shy of medalling in the women’s 400 metres hurdles, Kemi set new Asian records each time she stepped out onto the track.

The 30-year-old is now aiming to turn those achievements into podiums, starting with next month’s 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, and then at the Paris Olympic Games in France next year.

“I will try my best at the Asian Games,” Kemi said after clocking 53.09 seconds in the women’s 400m hurdles final on Thursday night—an Asian and Bahraini record and new personal best. “I am not really disappointed, but everybody wants to get a medal.

So I tried my best and I applaud myself for breaking the Asian record, but I know I have got more in the tank. “I am coming back hungry for more at the Olympics.”

Competing in her first world final, Kemi put in a valiant effort and on the home straight made a late charge to take fourth place overall in a hotly contested race.

She set a new Asian record for the third time in as many races at the Hungarian capital—first shattering a continental best that stood for 30 years with a run of 53.56s in her first-round heats, and then repeating her success but going even faster in the semi-finals with a time of 53.39s.

“It is a big thing (the AR for the third time in Budapest),” she said. “At least, it is an achievement. Although I did not get a medal in this competition, at least I achieved one of my goals this year.”

Two more Bahrainis are still to compete at this year’s athletics worlds today and tomorrow.

Former women’s marathon world champion Rose Chelimo will be looking to add another gold medal to her resume when she runs in the women’s marathon at 8am, Bahrain time, this morning.

Then, tomorrow night, on the concluding day of the championship, former Asian Games and Asian champion Winfred Yavi will be aiming to capture her maiden world title when she runs the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final, scheduled for 10.05pm, Bahrain time.

Kemi, Rose and Winfred are part of a four-athlete national team that are flying the Bahrain flag at the worlds.

Former women’s 400m world champion Salwa Eid Naser and Abdi Ali Gelelchu were also originally scheduled to compete.

But Salwa was forced to withdraw due to injury, and Gelelchu faced visa issues that prevented him from taking part.