NAIROBI, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Olympic javelin silver medalist Julius Yego of Kenya says he is happy with his progress after he recaptured the Africa Championship title in Asaba, Nigeria.
The Kenyan, 29, is now certain of his chances of making the Africa team to the IAAF Continental Cup in Ostrava, the Czech Republic on Sept. 18-19 and believes it will help him turn another page since his return from the groin injury that has plighted his career since Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
"It is another milestone for me in my recovery plan. It is good to win again. But the focus will be at competing strongly at the IAAF Continental Cup," said Yego, Tuesday in Nairobi.
All of the top finishers at the Africa Championships secured automatic tickets to the IAAF Continental Cup. But the athletes will shortly turn their focus to the Diamond League, which will have its finals in Brussels on Sept. 2.
The Diamond League will return on Aug. 18 with the Birmingham Leg. However, for Yego, improving his throwing skills closer to his 92 meter mark is what will count for him.
In Nigeria, Yego won his specialty with a second round 77.34m effort, defeating South African Philmar Van Rensburg (76.57m), with Kure Adams of Nigeria taking bronze with 75.69m.
But a challenge lies ahead as Yego struggles to return to the top of javelin in the world. Olympic champion Thomas Rohler, Andreas Hofmann, who was eighth at the World Championships in London, and world champion Johannes Vetter all from Germans who have thrown over 90 meters this season are waiting.
Yego and Sandra Perkovic (Ukraine) will be playing catch up to Germany dominance in Ostrava. But for now, Yego will out his legs up and relax before returning to training in a week's time.
"I am happy with what the team did in Nigeria. Kenya took home titles on the track and on the field on to up their gold medal haul to 11. I will take few days off and return to the training," he added.
