Matt Hudson-Smith included in GB team for world championships

Hudson-Smith, who claimed 400 metre silver at last summer’s Olympics, will be aiming to go one better and become the first British male since Eric Liddell in 1924 to win the event at world level.

The 30-year-old will face competition from America’s Quincy Hall, who pipped him on the line to become Olympic champion in Paris 12 months ago, while GB team-mate Charlie Dobson is also expected to be in medal contention.

Dobson beat Hudson-Smith in July’s Diamond League meeting in London. The latter has not competed since, after returning to his home in the USA for the birth of his first child. 

Hudson-Smith has described next month’s trip to Tokyo as “redemption” after missing out when the Japanese capital staged the Olympics four years ago due to injury.

Since then, he has taken his career to a new level, winning bronze and silver at the most recent two world championships.

Staffordshire long jumper Jazmin Sawyers has also been included in the 66-athlete strong GB and Northern Ireland squad. The 31-year-old will be aiming to complete her own redemption story, after injury forced her to miss out on Paris.

Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson will face training partner Georgia Hunter Bell in the women’s 800m. Defending champions Katarina Johnson-Thompson (heptathlon) and Josh Kerr (1500m) have have been given wildcards by World Athletics. The championships begin on September 13.

Paula Dunn, performance director of UK Athletics said: “We are proud to announce such a strong team for Tokyo. 

“This squad combines proven global medallists with exciting emerging athletes, and we are confident they can build on our recent successes at the highest level.

“Our clear ambition is to convert world-class performances into medals, while also developing depth across events for the future. Tokyo will provide the perfect stage to demonstrate the strength of British athletics, and I know the athletes will rise to the occasion.”