Zakithi Nene and Sinesipho Dambile Delivers Big in Tokyo. Image: AFP.
(The Post News)– Zakithi Nene and Sinesipho Dambile represented team SA with pride in Tokyo 2025. South Africa’s hopes at the World Athletics Championships received a much-needed boost on Thursday, thanks to impressive performances from sprinters Nene and Dambile, who are emerging as key figures in the national team’s campaign.
Nene produced a strong showing in the men’s 400m final, finishing fifth against a world-class field. Although he narrowly missed out on a medal, his performance equalled the best result by a South African athlete at this year’s championships, matching Gift Leotlela’s fifth-place finish in the men’s 100 m final earlier in the week.
Nene Displays Consistency Over the Season
He displayed poise and power throughout the rounds and proved he can compete among the world’s elite in the one-lap event. Nene’s consistency over the season and his composure in the final marked a crucial step forward in his international career.
While Nene’s run brought pride to the team, it was Sinesipho Dambile who lit up the track earlier in the day. The 200m specialist stormed into the final after placing third in his semi-final, clocking a personal best of 19.97 seconds. That time not only secured his spot in Friday’s medal showdown but also made him the eighth South African sprinter in history to break the 20-second barrier over 200 m, a major milestone in his young career.
Dambile Among SA’s Top Contenders
Dambile’s performance has positioned him as one of South Africa’s strongest medal contenders as the competition heads into its final days. At just 22, his rapid progress reflects both his talent and the potential for a bright future in global sprinting.
With no medals on the board yet for Team South Africa, the athletics president, James Moloi, acknowledged the pressure but expressed optimism, highlighting the impact of both athletes. “We are now very desperate for a medal in any colour. Dambile gives us hope, and Nene showed great determination in the 400m. All the best to our athletes still in competition; may the weather and conditions favour them, and may they achieve personal bests,” he said.
As the championships continue, all eyes will be on Dambile in Friday’s 200m final, where he’ll carry the nation’s hopes for a long-awaited place on the podium. Meanwhile, Nene’s top-five finish stands as a reminder that South Africa remains a force to be reckoned with in the sprint events on the global stage.
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