The Netherlands is sending its biggest-ever team to the world athletics championships, with 53 athletes competing in Tokyo from Saturday. The squad includes several strong medal contenders, even though star runner Sifan Hassan is skipping this year’s event.

On the opening day, the Dutch team will line up as reigning Olympic champions in the mixed 4×400 metres relay. Femke Bol, who anchored the team to gold in Paris last summer and added two more medals there, is one of the country’s main hopes.

She will also compete in her favourite event, the 400 metres hurdles, where her main rival Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is absent.

Another athlete tipped for success is 20-year-old Niels Laros in the 1,500 metres. Laros finished sixth in the Olympic final last year and has since won three Diamond League races and the season title. He faces a much-anticipated battle with Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who has returned from injury.

Shot putter Jessica Schilder, already a multiple world medallist, will be in action during the final weekend. She has also dominated the Diamond League this season and set a Dutch record of 20.47 metres.

Other potential podium contenders include Nadine Visser in the 100 metres hurdles, Sofie Dokter in the heptathlon, and Jorinde van Klinken in the discus. Long jumper Pauline Hondema, 400 metre runner Lieke Klaver and sprinter Elvis Afrifa are also seen as athletes to watch.