By Levy Masiteng
South African sprint sensation Bayanda Walaza has proven his mettle once again by cruising into the 200m semifinals at the 2025 FISU World University Games in Bochum, Germany, just hours after claiming gold in the 100m final.
The 19-year-old athlete from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) secured his spot in Thursday’s semifinals with a smooth 20.93 seconds in heat 2, the third-fastest time across all seven heats.
“I arrived in Germany with not a lot of training under my belt, but I quickly convinced myself that I am a warrior and a fighter,” Walaza said.
On Tuesday, he edged out Thailand’s Puripol Boonson, who took silver in 10.22, while Japan’s Hiroki Yanagita claimed bronze with 10.23, in a thrilling 100m final where the top three finishers were separated by mere hundredths of a second.
Walaza crossed the finishing line with an impressive 10.16 seconds on the clocks.
“Winning for me is an achievement, and every win means something. I’m very grateful for each person who supported me and to all my competitors,” Walaza said after his victory.
His win marks a significant milestone in his career. He joins the ranks of notable SA sprinters like Anaso Jobodwana and Akani Simbine, who won the title in 2013 and 2015.
“It’s wonderful to say that I’m the fastest in all of the universities around the world. It’s a great honour to be here and to win this,” Walaza beamed.
Despite a dramatic build-up he faced with two false starts, Walaza remained composed and secured his spot in the final.
Meanwhile, his teammate Kyle Zinn finished fifth in the final with a time of 10.42 seconds.
Walaza expressed pride in Zinn’s performance, saying: “I am super proud of Kyle, and I believe that he will one day be one of the scariest sprinters in the world.”
The duo are set to join forces in the 4x100m relay.
“I believe in the relay team so much, and people should expect fire when we step onto the track,” Walaza confidently said.
With this victory, Walaza has added to South Africa’s growing tally of medals at the World University Games, taking the total to 10.
The 12-day competition ends on Sunday.
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