South Africa’s rising athletics star Bayanda Walaza will miss the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after failing to recover from a hamstring injury sustained at the Diamond League Final in Zurich on 25 August.
In a statement, Athletics South Africa 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.
Historic silver medal
The 19-year-old Bayanda 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, before capturing another sprint double at the FISU World University Games in July.
SA team for the World Athletics Championships:
Men
Akani Simbine (100m), Gift Leotlela (100m), Sinesipho Dambile (200m), Naeem Jack (200m), Wayde van Niekerk (200m), Zakithi Nene (400m), Lythe Pillay (400m), Tshepo Tshite (1 500m), Ryan Mphahlele (1500m), Adriaan Wildschutt (10 000m), Elroy Gelant (marathon), Mondray Barnard (110m hurdles), Antonio Alkana (110m hurdles), John Adesola (110m hurdles), Sabelo Dhlamini (400m hurdles), Kyle Rademeyer (pole vault), Brian Raats (high jump), Cheswill Johnson (long jump), Aiden Smith (shot put), Chris van Niekerk (shot put), Victor Hogan (discus), Douw Smit (javelin), Wayne Snyman (20km race walk), Bradley Nkoana (4x100m), Retshidisitswe Mlenga (4x100m), Abduraghmaan Karriem (4x100m), Shaun Maswanganyi (4x100m), Udeme Okon (4x400m mixed), Gardeo Isaacs (4x400m mixed), Leendert Koekemoer (4x400m mixed), Mthi Mthimkulu (4x400m mixed)
Women
Shirley Nekhubui (400m), Miranda Coetzee (400m), Prudence Sekgodiso (800m), Charne Swart-Du Plessis (800m), Marione Fourie (110m hurdles), Zenéy van der Walt (400m hurdles), Rogail Joseph (400m hurdles), Miré Reinstorf (pole vault), Danielle Nolte (long jump), Ashley Erasmus (shot put), Miné de Klerk (shot put), Colette Uys (shot put), Jo-Ane du Plessis (javelin), Jessica Groenewalt (35km race walk), Marie Viljoen (4x400m mixed), Precious Molepo (4x400m mixed), Hannah van Niekerk (4x400m mixed)
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