Illness fails to slow Botswana’s Isaac Makwala at World Championships

Botswana’s Isaac Makwala will go for World Championships gold after overcoming illness, quarantine and two races in little more than two hours to qualify for today’s 200 metres final.

Makwala was on Tuesday night denied the chance to face South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk, the world and Olympic 400m champion, over one lap.

The 30-year-old, who was told he could not take up his place in the 400m final on medical grounds following illness, clocked 20.14 seconds to place second in the first semi-final heat in torrential rain at the London Stadium.