Sunday Israel Okon Stuns Olympic Champion Jacobs And Zharnel Hughes In Tokyo
1 min read
By Sportsgister
Nigeria’s sprint sensation Sunday Israel Okon produced one of the biggest talking points of the preliminary rounds at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, after blazing to victory in Heat 6 of the Men’s 100m.
The 21-year-old Nigerian ran a blistering 10.04 seconds, edging out European sprint giants Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain and Olympic Champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy in a thrilling finish.
Okon, who has been steadily rising through the ranks on the international stage, showed composure beyond his years as he held off Hughes, who is the British record holder, and Jacobs, who won Olympic gold in Tokyo 2021.
The Nigerian sprinter’s explosive start and smooth transition phases set him apart in the tightly contested race, sending strong signals of his intent to challenge for a spot in the final and possibly a medal for Nigeria.
This result has further fueled excitement among Nigerian fans, who see Okon as part of the new generation of sprinters capable of restoring the country’s dominance on the global stage.
His victory not only marks a personal milestone but also a symbolic statement that Nigeria is back in contention at the very top level of sprinting.
With the semifinals and finals still to come, all eyes will be on Sunday Israel Okon to see if he can sustain this momentum against the world’s best.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
