Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin set for 200m final showdown in Beijing

Usain Bolt has stayed on course for his 12th individual major championship medal after cruising into the final of the men’s 200m set for Thursday at 7:55 a.m. “I hope it doesn’t become third time bad luck”, Farah said after he qualified second from his heat for Saturday’s final.

Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, who trains with Bolt in Jamaica, won his heat in 20.13, while teammate Danny Talbot is also into Wednesday’s semi-finals after a 20.35 for third place in his heat. 01 seconds.

In the men’s long jump final, Olympic title-holder Greg Rutherford will fight it out with America’s Jeff Henderson and defending champion Aleksandr Menkov of Russian Federation. Right now I’m feeling OK.

“I was trying to make sure I ran at least 130m of the race and then I kind of shut it down”. “This is my favorite event”.

Japanese teenager Hakim Sani Brown failed to advance to the men’s 200 meters after placing fifth in his semifinal heat at the world athletics championships in Beijing on Wednesday night. He served his own suspension for steroid use, beginning in 2006, and is not an adored showman like Bolt. “This means a lot because I’ve been struggling all season”, Bolt told BBC Sport immediately after the race.

Gatlin, 33, who had won 28 consecutive 100 meter races prior to Sunday, will race against Bolt again in the 200 meters.

Hughes, born in the British Dependent Territory of Anguilla, formally gained British citizenship in June this year and won the national trials in some style.

Chants of “Usain Bolt” rang around along with acclaim for China’s Bingtian Su, Bolt raising his eyebrows at a classical piano rendition from a Chinese musician and checking out his beard as his face featured on the big screen. “He wanted one of the middle lanes and to be taken seriously as a contender”.

“My sister won the gold medal in this stadium at the [2008] Olympic Games so I wanted to share this family experience”. Especially after all those disappointments I had this year.

Ethiopian favourite Genzebe Dibaba stormed to the women’s world 1500m title with a sumptuous display of controlled running. The Brampton, Ont., native, who ran a personal-best 20.18 in Tuesday’s heats, finished last in his semifinal group in 20.46.

Bolt didn’t run all that hard at all. “I’m still bit little sore but I guess that is from the rounds and the fact that I didn’t compete that much this season”.

The Jamaican was always in control of his heat, easing up down the straight two days after clinching a 100m gold. “Let’s see what she does over the next few years”. That’s after Gatlin coasted to a 19.87 in his semi-final, shutting off just as early as Bolt and running a scintillating bend.

Here’s a recap of the latest virtuoso performance from the languid Jamaican and a closer look at how things are panning out ahead of the final of one of the championships’ most prestigious events.