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Women's 200m champion won't defend world title in Beijing

Xinhua, July 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Two-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce told a pre-race briefing here on Friday that she won't defend her 200 meters title in next month's world championships in Beijing.

The 28-year-old Jamaican, a hot favorite to win in Saturday's Paris Diamond League meeting at the Stade de France, said hat she's only going to race the 100m sprint in the August 22-30 worlds.

"It was a decision of my coach to help me get back to where I was in 2008," Fraser-Pryce said. "He thought I'd strayed a bit from my explosive start of the past, partly through running 200m races."

"I hope to get that back this year with Rio in mind next year," she added. "I was beginning to get more comfortable with the 200m, but my coach has always guided me well and this was his decision."

The 2008 and 2012 Olympic 100m gold medalist, who also took a silver of the 200m at the 2012 London Games, emphasized that she'll go double at the Rio Olympic Games next year.

"It's just for this year. I will definitely double up again next year," said Fraser-Pryce who ran 10.79 seconds at the Jamaican Championships last weekend, her fastest time since winning the world title in Moscow two years ago.

"I had a very good run in Jamaica last Friday," she said. "I think I executed a solid 100m and it all came together. Tomorrow I'm looking forward to doing that again and I hope to get a better time."

In 2013, Fraser-Pryce claimed a treble victory at the Moscow world championships by winning 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay. Enditem