Devynne Charlton successfully defended her 60m hurdles world title in sensational fashion at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, on Sunday, edging a field that saw just 0.04 seconds separate the top six finishers.

The Bahamian star, who came into the final as the world record holder and defending champion, showed her class once again, holding her nerve to clock 7.72 and retain her crown in one of the closest sprint hurdle finals in championship history.

Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, the world leader and European champion, narrowly missed out on gold with a 7.73 clocking for the silver medal, while Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent stormed to a season-best 7.74 to claim her first global medal since turning professional in 2024.

Incredibly, Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska and the USA’s Grace Stark were both also credited with 7.74, finishing fourth and fifth respectively, with Dutch hurdler Nadine Visser just behind in 7.76. Christina Clemons of the United States ran 8.03 for seventh, while Jamaica’s Amoi Brown, who had advanced to the final as a non-automatic qualifier, placed eighth in 8.07.

The result capped an exciting hurdles showdown on the final day of competition in Nanjing, and further solidified Charlton’s status as one of the premier sprint hurdlers in the world, while Nugent’s performance confirmed her rise among the elite as she opened a new chapter in her professional career.

Photos: World Athletics