Tokyo, September 18 (HS):

Portugal’s Isaac Nader produced a stunning upset at the World Athletics Championships, sprinting from fifth to first in the last 100 meters to win the men’s 1,500m final on Wednesday. The 26-year-old, ranked only eighth globally and entering as a 50-1 outsider, clocked 3:34.10 to edge past Britain’s 2022 champion Jake Wightman by just 0.02 seconds. Kenya’s Reynold Cheruiyot claimed bronze.

The favorites faltered, with Dutch star Niels Laros fading to fifth, while 2023 world champion Josh Kerr limped home following an injury. Nader’s victory marked Portugal’s first-ever gold in one of track’s most unpredictable events. “I thought I could either finish 14th or first. Today, it was first,” said Nader, still in disbelief as he described the win as “Inacreditável!” — unbelievable.

Katie Moon Secures Third Straight Pole Vault Title

In the women’s pole vault, American Katie Moon cleared 4.90m on her final attempt to capture her third consecutive world title, narrowly beating compatriot Sandi Morris. It was Moon’s fourth gold in five major championships, her only miss being silver at the Paris Olympics. Morris, who cleared 4.85m, was forced to settle for yet another silver — her fifth overall.

Teen Sensation Gout Gout Advances in 200m

Seventeen-year-old Australian sprinter Gout Gout impressed on debut, clocking 20.23 seconds in the 200m heats to secure a semifinal berth. Running alongside stars like Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo, Gout described the experience as “nervous but exciting,” hinting that a sub-20 run may be needed to reach the final.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar