TOKYO 2020: Redemption seeking Korir turns focus to 800m after seeing red in 400m

After seeing red in the 400m first round, Emmanuel Korir will be seeking to redeem himself in the 800m semifinals slated for Sunday afternoon at the Olympic Stadium. 

The Africa 800m silver medalist had his dream of double glory quashed after being disqualified in the 400m first round for a false start.

The United States-based athlete clocked 1:44.33 to storm to the 800m semis on Saturday morning and will hope to exorcise the Sunday morning mishap by booking a place in the final set for Wednesday.

The 2019 World Championship 400m finalist qualified for the semis alongside bronze medalist Ferguson Rotich and former world indoor 600m record holder Michael Saruni who all will be seeking to retain the crown held by record holder David Rudisha who will not be defending his title.

With the two top athletes in each heat set to advance to the final, the third heat promises a stupendous contest as Rotich will face a host of seasoned athletes in the two-lap race among them is 2012 games silver medalist and Botswana national Nijel Amos.

The latter who appeared comfortable in the first round on Saturday morning boasts of having the leading time over the distance this year which stands at 1:42.91. He will be making his third appearance in the Olympics since making his bow in 2012 in London.

The heat will also have the 2016 European Championships bronze medalist Giles Elliot of Great Britain who finished behind Rotich in the first round as well as serial winner Tuka Amel of Bosnia who boasts of world silver and bronze medals.

Saruni who is in the second semifinal will come up against 2016 bronze medalist Clayton Murphy of the United States who prevailed in round one and the highly-rated Canadian Marco Arop.

Meanwhile, national 100m record holder Ferdinard Omanyala will be looking to write history by qualifying for the final. Omanyala cleared the first hurdle on Saturday after finishing third and will be placed in heat one of the semis, a race which presents him the opportunity to rub shoulders with former world champion and second fastest man in both 100 and 200m races Yohan Blake of Jamaica.