Zimbabwe’s Sprint Duo Ready to Light Up Tokyo in 200m Showdown

The big moment has arrived. Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba are back on the world stage as they begin their 200-metre campaigns at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this afternoon.

The two have carried Zimbabwean sprinting to new heights in recent months, and now the spotlight is firmly on them. Makarawu lines up in heat two at 1:22pm Zimbabwe time, while Charamba takes his mark in heat five at 1:43pm. Both will be aiming to qualify for Thursday’s semi-finals (2:02pm), with the ultimate target being Friday’s final at 3:06pm.

Their credentials speak for themselves. Makarawu broke the national record in June with 19.84, and Charamba went even faster in May, clocking 19.79 — times that put them among the fastest men in the world this year. Only Noah Lyles, the current world No. 1 at 19.63, and a select few others have run quicker in 2025.

Zimbabweans still remember their performances in Paris 2024, where Charamba made the Olympic final and Makarawu impressed in the heats. Both are now ranked inside the global top ten, a remarkable rise that means they are no longer viewed as outsiders but as genuine contenders.

It will not be easy. Lyles, Kenny Bednarek, Letsile Tebogo, and the American squad remain formidable opponents. But the fact that two Zimbabwean sprinters are competing at this level has ignited national pride and belief.

This afternoon, the nation will pause, clocks will tick in unison, and eyes will be fixed on Tokyo. For Makarawu, for Charamba, and for Zimbabwe, this is more than just another race — it is another chance to show the world that their story is only just beginning.