07 August 2021 | Athletics

Ugandan runner Mercyline Chelangat will have to deliver a mind-blowing performance to flip the odds in her favour when she lines up against top athletes in the Tokyo Olympics women’s 10,000m on Saturday.

Chelangat will be the last woman to compete for the Pearl of Africa at this edition after Peruth Chemutai’s golden moment, the first in the 3000m steeplechase for the country in history.

Tripple medal hunter and world number 1 Sifan Hassan of Netherlands presents the toughest challenge Mercyline will have to face as she seeks gold in the event.

Hassan - the double 2019 world champion and multiple world record-holder is seeking her 3rd Tokyo Olympics medal after winning gold in the 5000m and bronze in the 1500m.

Kenyan 2018 African Champion Helen Obiri is also a serious contender for a medal after featuring in the Tokyo Olympics 5000m where she won silver just behind Hassan.

Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, the world silver medallist who now has both the world 5000m and 10,000m records to her name is also bound to mount a huge challenge in pursuit of glory.

Japan’s Hiya Nitomi who set national records for the 10,000m (30:20.44) and half-marathon (1:06:38) in 2020 is the other notable mention in the race that Mercyline will need to contend with.

When to watch Mercyline run the Tokyo Olympics 10,000m race;

Women's 10,000m Final

Date and Time: Sat 7 Aug. (1:45pm EAT)

Venue: Olympic Stadium

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