By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa’s rising athletics star Bayanda Walaza is out of the Tokyo 2025 World Championships after failing to recover from hamstring injury.
In a statement released on Wednesday (10 September), Athletics South Africa (ASA) confirmed that “a comprehensive medical evaluation has determined that Walaza’s hamstring injury will prevent him from participating in the Championships.” The federation added that the decision was taken “in the best interest of the athlete and the integrity of the national team.”
He was entered to compete in the 100m and the 4x100m. Walaza will be replaced by Retshidisitswe Mlenga.
Walaza burst onto the international stage in 2024 while still in high school, helping South Africa to a historic 4x100m relay silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He then claimed an impressive sprint double at the World U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, a month later.
Walaza carried that momentum into 2025, anchoring South Africa to 4x100m relay gold at the World Relays in Guangzhou, China.
South Africa head to the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo with a 49-member squad, determined to end a run of four consecutive editions without a medal. The competition is scheduled for 13-21 September.