World Championships: Turk on track

London: Wayde van Niekerk’s dreams of emulating legend Michael Johnson’s 200m/400m world double lay in tatters as Turkey’s 9/1 outsider Ramil Guliyev edged the 200m final in the World Championships. Guliyev’s win on Thursday night may not have been following the script the organisers wished for after two-time doping cheat Justin Gatlin’s win in the 100m upset superstar Usain Bolt’s farewell.

van Niekerk, who had won the 400m earlier in the week, took a swipe at people who he feels have belittled his achievements. “There are many who don’t think I deserve this,” said the 25-year-old, who produced the performance of Olympics last year breaking the 400m world record on way to gold. “I don’t think I got the respect I deserved after the 400m (winning the world gold) but it’s the beginning. I will show my dominance,” he added.

As Guliyev’s win was confirmed after a thrilling finish to the 200m, some boos rang out and thousands of spectators couldn’t make the exit quickly enough. The 27-year-old Azerbaijan-born sprinter, who became a Turkish citizen in 2011, then draped himself in both the Turkish and Azeri flags as he performed his lap of honour. Turkish leaders and media hailed Guliyev’s historic gold medal.