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Analysis: Rudisha eyes at reclaiming world title in Beijing worlds

Xinhua, July 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha of Kenya is not disturbed about the small matter of making the Kenya team to the World championships in Beijing next month, but how to beat his tormentor, Botswana' s Nijel Amos.

Amos remained in Rudisha' s shadows for three seasons, 2011 to 2013, as Rudisha strung together 28 wins before a knee and ankle injury took the winds out of his sails.

This gave Amos the chance to blossom and he has been effective in returning the favour and has recorded six wins in the Diamond League and the Commonwealth Games over the Kenyan.

"That is a much bigger challenge to me," Rudisha said late on Wednesday in Eldoret. "I have recovered my confidence and my knees and legs are stronger. But I need that killer kick to destroy my opponents and hopefully, it will start in Beijing. I want to recapture my gold medal."

But it will not be only Amos to put Rudisha in the worrying mood. Ethiopia Mohammed Amana, the world champion will be the other athlete to beat. But that can wait as Rudisha focuses to compete at the national trials in Nairobi.

"I missed the 2013 World Championships through an ankle injury and lost my gold medal. But It is time for me to reclaim it," he said.

Having skipped the local track and field competition, Rudisha will finally grant his fans a rear show in Nairobi as he seeks a ticket to the World Championships.

Rudisha will lead a team of 21 athletes seeking to make the team and it will be his first show on Kenyan soil this season.

But as Rudisha comes to Kasarani to launch his bid to recapture the title he last won in Daegu, South Korea in 2011, there is a feeling of certainty that the gap between him and Amos has closed down and he has a realistic chance of clinching gold in Beijing next month.

Rudisha started his season down under in Melbourne and Sydney Australia in March, and though a muscle sprain at the Golden Spikes Grand Prix in Ostrava, Czech Republic in May caused a momentary caution, he has since shaken it off and competed in New York, Lausanne and London.

At the national trials, there seems to be no formidable challenge to dethrone him from his reign over the two-lap race.

"Trials are always explosive and unpredictable. But I believe it will be a good race and hopefully be able to get the best partners as we head to Beijing," he added.

Challenging Rudisha at the national trials will be Job Kinyor, a perennial struggler at the trials, never to have made the Kenya team since he graduated from the junior ranks.

However, with a fast time this season of 1:43.92, Kinyor has a chance to see his pain ease and finally make the Kenya team.

With Rudisha expected to win the race, it remains to see who will fill the other two places. Kinyor will find his ambition challenged by Ferguson Rotich (1:43.92), Alfred Kipketer, Robert Kiptoo and Olympic bronze medallist Timothy Kitum. Endi