TOKYO 2020: Rotich, Korir seek to defend 800m gold

World 800m bronze medalist Ferguson Rotich is a warm favorite to run away with the Olympic gold medal in the final slated for Wednesday afternoon at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.

Rotich depicted signs of succeeding record holder and defending champion David Rudisha in the semis after romping to victory in a spectacular fashion sending a clear signal that he was braced up for his first Olympic medal.

Rotich who will be with his compatriot and Africa Championship Emmanuel Korir in the race will come up against a familiar foe in 2016 Games silver medalist Nijel Amos of Botswana among other athletes. Korir who was seeking a double had to be contended with the two lap race after seeing red in the first round of the 400m,a race he reached to the final during the past edition of the World Championships.

Amos had initially stumbled in the semis after colliding with Isaiah Jewett of the Unite States of America but was reinstated by the referee after a launching an appeal.

Besides the threat posed by Amos, the Kenyan duo will have to deal with the challenge from 2019 World silver medalist Amel Tuka of Bosnia and Herzegovina who is also the 2015 world bronze medalist.

2016 Games silver medalist Clayton Murphy of the United States and Polish runner Dobek Patryk as well as Australian Peter Bol who is the first Australian to be in the final for the first time in fifty years will also be in contention for a place in the podium.

Meanwhile, the trio of Faith Kipyegon, Winny Chebet and Edinah Jebitok will be seeking to advance to the 1500m final from the semis set for Wednesday. The three successfully cleared round one on Monday and will pursuing to sail through and increase the country’s hopes for more medals.

Both Kipyegon who is the defending champion and Chebet are placed in heat one while the youthful Jebitok is in heat two which has the treble seeking Sifan Hassan.