Lausanne, July 9 (IANS) Reigning Commonwealth Games (CWG) 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, Xinhua reported on Wednesday.
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 on Tuesday.
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.
The javelin star set a Kenyan record of 86.88 metres 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 metres at the Birmingham Diamond League. It was the first time in 12 years that an athlete had thrown beyond the 90 metres 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 the bronze medal in the 2013 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 medallist and Kenyans who have ruled the world in track and field competition.
