'I Just Go Ahead and Take It Easy' – Ferdinand Omanyala Reacts After Close Fight with Akani Simbine in China

Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala has reacted after finishing second at the opening leg of the Diamond League series in Xiamen, China, on Saturday.

Omanyala, who holds the African record in the men’s 100m, clocked 10.13 seconds in a highly competitive race. South Africa’s Akani Simbine emerged victorious with a commanding time of 9.99 seconds.

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This event marked the second clash between Omanyala and Simbine this year.

“For sure my expectation was to win the race, but the second place is not bad. I was inspired by Simbine during the race. I just go ahead and take it easy. I hope I can just get better and better. Egret stadium is a really good stadium and I'm impressed," Omanyala said in an interview with Diamond League.

"This is my first time to be here. I really enjoy it. Everything is perfect. I'm hoping to come back next year. I really appreciate it."

The battle between the two sprint stars followed their first meeting of the year at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix held in Gaborone on April 12.

In that encounter, Simbine once again edged out Omanyala, winning the race in a blistering 9.90 seconds, while Omanyala finished second, clocking an impressive 10.00 seconds.

Despite missing out on the top podium spot in Xiamen, Omanyala remained upbeat and optimistic about his form as the athletics season heats up.

His participation in several top-tier meets this year, including the Ugandan National Trials and the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Grand Prix, has kept him in sharp competitive shape ahead of bigger championships on the horizon.