Manyonga to lead strong 31-member team to Athletics World Champs

JOHANNESBURG – A 31-member South African team has been named to compete at the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar from September 27 to October 6.

They will be led by world champion Luvo Manyonga, who will defend his global title in the men's long jump. This time the team will be without defending champions Caster Semenya (women's 800m) and Wayde van Niekerk (men's 400m), who is yet to make a full comeback from a knee injury.

Manyonga will be joined at the athletics showpiece by African long jump champion Ruswahl Samaai, Olympic javelin throw medallist Sunette Viljoen, World Championships 100m finalist Akani Simbine and former World Championships 200m medallist Anaso Jobodwana.

The squad also features one of SA's most exciting young prospects, world junior champion Zeney van der Walt, who will compete in the women's 400m hurdles event.

Simbine, meanwhile, will spearhead a strong men's 4x100m relay team, while the squad also includes a 4x400m team which will rely on depth in the absence of Van Niekerk.

South Africa finished third overall on the medals table at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London.