Javelin champ Yego aims to reignite career at Doha Diamond League

Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 16:59:16|Editor: Lu Hui
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NAIROBI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Olympic javelin silver medalist Julius Yego wants to forget his Commonwealth Games problems by starting off the Diamond League season with a victory in Doha, Qatar on May 2.

Yego, who failed to make the finals in Gold Coast, Australia, will lead a group of Kenyan stars at the Doha Diamond League meeting.

"Mistakes make those who believe in winning like me stronger. I am sorry to everyone who believed and counted on me to deliver gold in Commonwealth Games. I have disappointed you, am disappointed too not to have made it in the finals because of officiators' mistakes," Yego said.

The Kenyan now wants to return stronger at the Doha Diamond League and believes it will be a start of his ascent back to the top since he injured his groin and ankle, denying him the World title and Commonwealth Games crown.

"I'm heartbroken but I will come back stronger and make you happy," he said.

In Doha, Yego will face baptism by fire as he comes up against Johannes Vetter, Thomas Rohler, Jakub Vadlejch and Petr Frydrych.

Also in the javelin mix are reigning Commonwealth Games champion Neeraj Chopra of India. The 20-year old holds the world lead and is also the Junior World champion and Asian champion and record-holder.

Organizers of the Doha Diamond League meeting have confirmed that there will be other top clashes in women's pole vault as Sandi Morris and Katerina Stefanidi face off. Women's pole vault also includes recently-crowned Commonwealth gold and silver medalists Alysha Newman of Canada and Eliza McCartney of New Zealand respectively, 2017 World Championship bronze medallist and 2013 U18 world champion Robeilys Peinado of Venezuela, and 2013 European indoor champion and British record-holder Holly Bradshaw.

World 800m champion Caster Semenya, fresh off from her Commonwealth Games 800m/1500m double victory, will head the field in the longer race.

At the moment Semenya's chief competition appears to be Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia, the 2016 world indoor bronze medalist and world U20 indoor record holder, Kenyan Winny Chebet, a world indoor 1500m finalist, Rababe Arafi of Morocco, a world and Olympic 1500m finalist, and Eunice Sum of Kenya, the 2013 world 800m champion.

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