NANJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Jeremiah Azu electrified the crowd on the first day of the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships, storming to gold in a dramatic 60m final here on Friday.
Azu crossed the line in 6.49 seconds, equaling his personal best, while Australia's Lachlan Kennedy finished just behind in second place, clocking 6.50 seconds. South Africa's Akani Simbine secured the bronze, and China's sprint star Xie Zhenye, with a season's best time of 6.58 seconds, finished fourth.
In the men's triple jump, Paris Olympic medalist Andy Diaz Hernandez of Italy soared to victory with a world-leading and national record jump of 17.80 meters, securing the first gold of Nanjing 2025.
China's Zhu Yaming took silver with a jump of 17.33 meters, marking his first-ever medal at an indoor World Championships. Burkina Faso's defending champion Hugues Fabrice Zango rounded out the podium with a jump of 17.15 meters.
South Korea's Woo Sang-hyeok claimed his second world indoor high jump title, three years after his gold in Belgrade. The 28-year-old was the only athlete to clear 2.31 meters. Defending champion and Olympic gold medalist Hamish Kerr of New Zealand took silver with a jump of 2.28 meters, ahead of Jamaica's Raymond Richards on countback.
The pentathlon also saw a historic moment as Saga Vanninen of Finland lived up to her billing, claiming the gold medal to become the first Finnish woman to win a senior global combined-events title.
The 21-year-old, who earned silver at the World Championships in Glasgow last year, improved on that performance with a winning score of 4,821 points. Ireland's Kate O'Connor made history as well, taking silver with 4,742 points, becoming the first Irish woman to win a global combined events medal. USA's Taliyah Brooks earned her first major international medal, securing bronze with a personal best of 4,669 points.
In the shot put, Canada's Sarah Mitton continued her dominant form, defending her title with a throw of 20.48 meters. This was the third-farthest throw of her career, adding another gold to her collection following her victory in Glasgow last year.
Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands earned silver with a throw of 20.07 meters, while USA's Chase Jackson secured bronze with 20.06 meters, marking the first time since 1991 that all three medalists in the event threw beyond 20 meters. ■
