Off the wire
• 2 killed, 2 injured due to severe weather in Philippines  • News Analysis: Iran strives for sanction-free era  • Debt negotiations should not take place behind closed doors, Tsipras tells MEPs  • British house prices up 1.7 pct in June  • 43 killed in clashes, airstrikes against IS militants in Iraq's Anbar  • Top marathons: next stop for Chinese tourists  • Ukrainian minister hails agricultural cooperation with China  • Uganda defeats Mauritius in 2015 Africa Rugby Tier 1B tournament  • U.S. stocks open lower on uncertainty over Greece  • Greek crisis can have political, economic impact on Bulgaria: Deputy PM  
You are here: 　 Home

Kenya's Yego eyes gold in Beijing after Lausanne Diamond test

Xinhua, July 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

Commonwealth Games javelin champion Julius Yego of Kenya believes he has what it takes to win a gold medal in the Beijing World Championships in August.

Four years since he stepped on the global scene, Yego has continued to redefine and rewrite history in the throws category at the international track and field meetings.

Now he wants to join a small league of elites who have conquered the Bird's Nest records and won titles at the iconic stadium in the capital of China in August.

"I have been in Beijing twice to compete in the Grand Prix. I had good results and I believe on the third time asking, I will get a gold medal," Yego said Tuesday in Nairobi.

The 26-year-old is not happy with qualification to the World Championships alone. The Africa record holder is eyeing to add the icing on the cake when he recites the national anthem at the Bird's Nest stadium in August in honour of his victory in javelin.

"The Bird's Nest is a good stadium and I have enjoyed competing there before. I look forward to do well again and win gold so that I can join a league of celebrated Kenyans who have won gold at the World Championships," he said.

But before heading to Beijing, Yego is heading to Switzerland to compete at the Lausanne Diamond League meeting on Thursday where he has to face his equals and prove his mantle yet again.

The javelin star set a Kenyan record of 86.88 meters on May 26 at the Ostrava Golden Spikes meeting in the Czech Republic.

It did not last and nine days later in Milan, he set another record and went further to stamp his authority and maturity in the discipline when he set a world lead of 91.39 meters at the Birmingham Diamond League. It was the first time in 12 years that an athlete had thrown beyond the 90 meters mark.

"Three records in 20 days was too much for me. I was in good form and I don't enter competitions eyeing to make records, but just to have a good performance. The records just come in and fall in place," said Yego.

Yego missed a bronze medal in the last World Championships by a whisker finishing fourth. He was 12th at the Olympic Games in London and is eyeing to break his jinx in Beijing and join the gold medalist and Kenyans who have ruled the world in track and field competition. Endi