Australia’s world hurdles champion Sally Pearson said Saturday she was “90 percent” certain of competing at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games as she battles an Achilles’ problem. Pearson hasn’t raced over the hurdles since early March but is targeting the 100-metres hurdles heats on April 12.
“I’d be 90% (certain for the hurdles). It will be an issue all the way through (to a final),” the 31-year-old told reporters in Brisbane. “I don’t think the pain will affect my performance. I’ll be able to block it out as much as possible. It’s not going to be a controlled race — it’s going to be all-out. It has to be.”
Injuries have been a constant for Pearson, who suffered a broken wrist from a race fall which derailed her 2015 world titles campaign, while a hamstring problem hit her 2016 Rio Olympics hopes. Last year Pearson claimed a second 100m hurdles world title in London.
“I was thinking the other day if this was my first major (event, with such a preparation), I’d be struggling a bit more,” Pearson said. “All my big decisions have helped me to cope with this competition, even though there is more spotlight and pressure being in my home town. I’m dealing with it well and staying relaxed. It’s a matter of what my body wants to do on the day and that’s pretty much going to make my decision for me.”
Pearson said she plans to train today or tomorrow after running in a 100m-flat leg in an Australian relay team earlier this week in Brisbane. Against Pearson, who has a 12.28 sec personal best, Jamaica has entered for the Games 100m hurdles three competitors with a sub-12.7 sec personal best, including 2015 world champion Danielle Williams (12.57).
David says pressure’s off for squash hat-trick
Malaysia’s squash superstar Nicol David said the “pressure is off” as she bids for a third straight gold medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. The eight-time world champion, 34, currently ranked sixth in the world, is lining up for her sixth Commonwealth Games, but for the first time since Manchester 2002 she is not the tournament top seed.
“I’ve got nothing to lose,” David said. “I want to start strong and see how far I go. The depth of the game is so strong. It’s anyone’s competition, anyone in the top 10 could win. The gold medals I have are very close to my heart and that is spurring me on.”
David competed in her first Commonwealth Games as a 14-year-old at Kuala Lumpur in 1998 before spending a record 108 consecutive months (2006-2015) on top of the official women’s world rankings and amassed an incredible 56-match unbeaten run in 2009. She won Commonwealth singles gold at Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014.
The women’s singles competition begins on Thursday.
A young boy runs around a statue of 'Borobi', the official mascot of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. (AFP)
