Africa’s fastest man and third fastest man in the world for this season, Ferdinand Omanyala is set to miss World Championships over visa delay.
The 26-year-old Kenyan sprinter on Thursday said he had given up on competing at the World Athletics Championships in the United States because of a delay in getting a visa.
He had been due to compete in the 100m heats on the first day of the world championships on Friday but lost a race against time to secure his US visa and travel to Oregon – a trip of about 24 hours or more.
“I have given up my trip to Oregon. Even if I am given a visa today it’s too late,” he said
“It would mean booking flights which can only be possible at night and the race is on tomorrow. It’s not possible,” he stated.
“I have accepted the situation and will now focus on the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham,” said Omanyala.
The Commonwealth Games open in the English city on July 28 and run until August 8.
In the meantime, he said: “I will sit back and watch the race in Oregon and enjoy it.
“I hope I will be better when the next world championship comes round in Budapest in 2023.”
