TOKYO 2020: Silver lining for Obiri in women 5000m as red hot Sifan Hassan claims Gold

Kenyans were served consecutive heartaches on Day 4 of Track and Field schedule of the Tokyo Olympics as gold medal prospect Helen Obiri lost the women 5000m race to on-form Dutch girl Sifan Hassan just minutes after the East African nation synonymous with middle and long distance racing ceded the men's 3000m steeplechase for the first time in her Olympic history.

The decorated world champion, Obiri, led Agnes Tirop, a multiple World 10000m bronze medalist and Lilian Kasait, a 2017 World Cross Country bronze medalist in the attempt to defend the gold medal won by Vivian Cheruiyot in 2016.

It was, however, Hassan who had the last laugh. The Kenyans who prefer and thrive in 'the fast and furious' races playing into the rest of the field's game plan of a slow race thus giving the Dutch a chance as she is know for her lethal finishing kick.

In the rather slow race, the East Africans dictated the pace as Hassan looked uninterested in the front running, electing to stay right in the middle of the group. 

She, however, was tactical enough not to let the leading pack go ahead as she staying at the back of the leaders when the field split as the Kenyans and Ethiopians stayed in the lead. 

At the bell, Hassan started to accelerate and had assumed the lead on the final bend speeding past Obiri who looked spent for her first of three possible gold medals in 14:36.79.

Obiri won retained her 2016 silver in 14:38.36 while Ethiopian Tsegay Guday won bronze in 14:38.87. Tirop ran a personal best time of 14: 39.62 for fourth place while Kasait was 12th in 14:55.85.