The youngest of the four Kambundji siblings might yet prove to be the best of the lot and, at 22, Ditaji has only just got going.

The quickest woman in the world, the ultimate turning point came as she equalled Susanna Kallur’s long-standing European record – a 7.67 she held since 2008 – to win the European indoor title in Apeldoorn only a matter of days ago.

No one was more surprised than Kambundji herself. “The time is pretty amazing,” she said. “I didn’t think it was possible. Now I’m looking forward to China.”

It is a performance that has been a long time coming. There were hopes of her making her mark on a far bigger stage at the Paris Olympics but she suffered a hamstring injury in Olympic year and it was always going to be a struggle just to get to the start. She made it to the Games but failed to make it out of her semi-final.

All that meant was a delay in her announcement to the world in terms of major championships. As her lead coach Florian Clivaz put it: “Ditaji is healthy. In principle, we were ready a year ago but then came the injury.”

Her camp have talked about her will to win and Kambundji readily admits she has tended to have a win-or-bust philosophy throughout the U20 ranks to senior level.

A self-confessed championship performer, she said she fully expects to be able to translate her Apeldoorn form as well as calmness and composure to Nanjing.

Her lack of experience is perhaps the one facet against her in what is proving a formidable field, barely a tenth of a second separating the top 10 women in the world this year in this particular class.

Breathing down her neck at the Europeans but denied in front of her home crowd is Nadine Visser, who will be seeking to reverse their finishing positions at the World Indoors. The bronze medallist Pia Skrzyszowska ought to also be in contention.

The United States has often set the benchmark in sprint hurdling. Olympic champion Masai Russell is absent in Nanjing but Olympic finalist Grace Stark – a 7.75 performer this year – makes the trip along with compatriots Christina Clemons and Amber Hughes.

Then there is Ackera Nugent of Jamaica, the outdoor world leader last year with her national record run of 12.24. She won in Lievin last month with a season’s best of 7.75 and backed it up with a 7.79 victory in Torun.

France’s Laeticia Bapte had looked set to be a potential medal contender earlier in the season, but she sustained an injury just before the European Indoors and wasn’t at her best there. It remains to be seen if she’ll have recovered in time for Nanjing.

Matt Majendie for World Athletics

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Win probability: 1 Ditaji Kambundji (SUI) 28.4%, 2 Devynne Charlton (BAH) 22.3%, 3 Ackera Nugent (JAM) 18.2%
(This win probability is powered entirely by data and driven by AI technology. More information)

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