The fact that World junior record holder Abubaker Kaki Khamis took the 800m gold for Sudan was no great surprise. But predictions of a two or even three-second margin of victory were well wide of the mark, as he was pushed all the way by Kenya’s Geoffrey Kibet.

Kaki, who was tipped as a potential Olympic champion in Beijing after setting a World junior record of 1:42.69 in Oslo in June, even admitted how difficult it had been to secure Sudan’s first outdoor global athletics gold medal.

“It wasn’t an easy win,” admitted Kaki, who crossed the line in 1:45.60. “I was surprised to see the Kenyan on my shoulder with 100m to go.”

Kaki burst to the front down the back straight of the opening lap with local favourite Adam Kszczot looming on the African’s shoulder at 200m.

The Sudanese athlete chose to control the race from the front and hit the bell in 51.78 ahead of Kibet, the World Youth champion, and South Africa’s Andre Oliver.

However, while many would have expected the 1:42 man to stamp his authority on the race down the back straight at 600m Kibet was still within one stride of the long-time leader and Kszczot and Oliver were also in contention.

Kaki entered the home straight side by side with Kibet and it required a big final push in the latter stages to finally shake off the attentions of the plucky Kenyan.

Kibet crossed the line second in a new personal best of 1:46.23 and Oliver broke Polish hearts by edging past Kszczot to take bronze in 1:47.57.

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Steve Landells for the IAAF