Japan announces a strong squad for Tokyo World Athletics Championships

Defending champion Haruka Kitaguchi, two-time world champion Toshikazu Yamanishi and national record holder Rachid Muratake are among the 80 athletes named in Japan Team for the 25th World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, which will be held from September 13-21.

Haruka Kitaguchi, who won the Olympic title in Paris after winning world gold in Budapest, will defend her javelin title. Meanwhile, world record holder Toshikazu Yamanishi will try to reclaim the 20km world race walk title, which he won in 2019 and defended in 2022.

Rachid Muratake became the first Japanese athlete to break 13 seconds in the 110m hurdles and is currently ranked second in the season. His national record of 12.92 sec places him 11th in the all-time world rankings.

The team also includes Nozomi Tanaka in the 1,500m and 5,000m, Ryuji Miura in the 3,000m steeplechase, and Yuto Seko in the high jump.