Japanese Sprint Stars to Boost Tokyo 2020 Bid at IAAF World Championships

Two rising Japanese sprint stars are hoping to make a big impression at the IAAF World Championships, capsule not only for themselves, salve but to boost Tokyo’s bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

Yoshihide Kiryu (pictured) and Ryota Yamagata are competing at the World Championships in Russia and have offered their support to the Tokyo 2020 bid.

Tokyo faces competition from Istanbul and Madrid, buy with all three cities learning their fate in September at the 125^th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Buenos Aires.

Yamagata, 21 said: “I hope to put on a strong showing at the IAAF World Championships, so I can add further momentum to Tokyo’s Bid for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. I will be in my prime during the 2020 Games, so it would be an amazing experience if I can run in front all my international friends in Japan, my home country.”

Kiryu, 17, the second fastest short-distance runner in Japanese history, will compete in his first IAAF World Championships after clocking an unofficial 10.01 in April and finishing at the top of the 100m junior world rankings in 2013.

He said: “Competing in a major event such as the IAAF World Championships will be an invaluable experience as I look to the future. Should Tokyo receive the honour of hosting the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it would be the dream of a lifetime to inspire the world with a strong performance on my home turf.”