The qualification window for the Tokyo World Championships officially closed in the early hours of yesterday. Wu Yanni ranked 40th in the women’s 100m hurdles, earning her a last-minute spot at the championships.

The World Athletics official website will finalize and announce the entry list on August 27, but since no athlete achieved the direct entry standard on August 24, Wu Yanni’s ranking is unlikely to change.

The last time China had an athlete qualify in women’s sprint hurdles at the World Championships was back in 2015, when Wu Shuijiao represented the country. Ten years later, Wu Yanni has finally filled this void for Chinese athletics. She is also the only active Chinese hurdler to achieve a rare “