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Toshikazu Yamanishi Vying for More Glory at the World Athletics Championships

When the World Athletics Championships get underway, the two-time defending men's 20-kilometer race walk world champion will be back in the spotlight.

Published

9 months ago

August 10, 2023

Ed Odeven

Toshikazu Yamanishi is seen after winning the men's 20-kilometer race walk at the 2022 World Athletics Championships on July 15, 2022, in Eugene, Oregon. (Representative photo/via SANKEI)

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Toshikazu Yamanishi will be vying for his third consecutive world title in the men's 20-kilometer race walk at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

Haruka Kitaguchi will be aiming to improve upon her third-place finish in the women's javelin at worlds in 2022 in Eugene, Oregon.

Yamanashi and Kitaguchi are among four Japanese medalists from a year ago scheduled to compete in the 2023 World Athletics Championships in the Hungarian capital. Team Japan's roster was announced on Tuesday, August 8.

Sixty-three athletes were chosen to represent Japan, including 42 new national team representatives.

Also, returning medalists from Oregon are race walkers Koki Ikeda (men's 20-km runner-up) and Masatora Kawano (men's 35-km runner-up).

On May 6, Yamanishi finished third in the Grande Premio Internacional de Rio Maior in Portugal. He completed the 20-km event in 1 hour, 20 minutes, 58 seconds.

Can the Kyoto Prefecture native extend his world title streak to three?

Yamanishi, who won his first world title in 2019 in Doha, will find out on Saturday, August 19, when the 20-km race walk is contested on the opening day of the world's biggest track and field meet this year.

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Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and Twitter ＠ed_odeven.