Why Mercy Oketch will wait longer to make her Diamond League debut
2026 Kip Keino Classic 400m champion Mercy Oketch will have to wait longer to make her much-anticipated Diamond League debut after visa complications ruled her out of the season opener held on Saturday, 16 May in Shanghai.Excitement had been building after the Shanghai Diamond League organisers listed Oketch among the athletes set to battle for the women’s 400m title in Keqiao, China. Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsHowever, fans were left disappointed when the Kenyan star failed to appear on the start list during the race.Reports from Sporty FM indicated that Oketch was unable to secure a visa to China after reportedly being denied clearance by the Chinese Embassy. By 1430 hours on Friday, 15 May, the sprinter was still in Kenya, making it impossible for her to travel in time for the event.##NAJAVA_MECA_9750088##Travelling from Nairobi to Shanghai takes between 15 and 18 hours on average due to the lack of direct flights, with total travel time largely depending on airline..