Ferdinand Omanyala has hinted at a potential World Indoor Championships showdown with Kishane Thompson as he considers making his third appearance at the prestigious event.
Fans might be in for an exciting contest as Africa’s fastest man weighs his options regarding participation in the global indoor competition. The championship is set to take place from March 21 to 23, 2025, at the Indoor Athletics Arena at the Nanjing Sports Training Centre in China.
Earlier this season, Omanyala had announced that he would not be participating in the indoor tour. However, he recently clarified that his statement did not include the World Indoor Championships, leaving the possibility of his participation open.
Omanyala revealed that his team is still assessing the situation before making a final decision. While he did not confirm his presence at the event, he acknowledged that it is under consideration.
“I haven’t said I’m not taking part in the indoors, I said the tour. The World Indoors is coming in three weeks, and we are still weighing options,” he stated.
“Don’t push me to give you words that I haven’t confirmed, just give me time, and you will know.”
Omanyala made his debut at the World Indoor Championships in 2022 in Serbia, where he reached the semifinals. He returned to the competition in 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland, showcasing significant improvement. That year, he won his heat, finished second in the semifinals, and secured fourth place in the final.
Although he has not yet mapped out his season in detail, he assured that once everything is finalized, he will make an official announcement.
Starting the 2025 season later than usual, Omanyala expressed confidence in his preparation. He emphasized that the extended training period has been beneficial, allowing him to build a strong foundation for the long season ahead.
“Don’t worry about that, I will let you know. I’ll decide… we haven’t planned anything yet, so we’ll let everyone know in due course,” he said.
“It’s been good because the preparation has been long four months has been a good preparation. I’m ready, so we shall see.”
Omanyala officially began his 2025 season at the second Athletics Kenya weekend meet at Thika Stadium, where he dominated the 100m heats.
Last season presented a mix of results for the Kenyan sprinting sensation. He missed out on the 100m final at the Paris Olympic Games but ended the year on a high note, finishing as the second-fastest man in the world. His impressive time of 9.79 seconds at the Kenyan Olympic trials earned him this distinction.
Looking ahead, Omanyala’s primary focus in 2025 is the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. With an eye on making a mark on the global stage, he remains determined to deliver standout performances throughout the season.
