Thaindian News

London, Aug 22 (IANS) After triple Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt, it is now fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell who is likely to skip the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games here.
Powell is struggling to gain peak fitness and his agent Paul Doyle insists that this, coupled with the timing of the Games, which has put off so many others, is the reason the Jamaican former world record holder will not be in Delhi to defend his 100 metres crown, according to a report in Daily Mail Sunday.

“A final decision is imminent, but it’s looking extremely unlikely at best that Asafa will be in India,” Powell’s agent Paul Doyle was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

“The timing couldn’t be much worse for Asafa,” said Doyle.

“For him, just as for Usain, the next two-year cycle means everything and he doesn’t want anything, such as his pre-season being put back, or his injuries flaring up again, to affect this,” he added.

Powell will be among a host of top stars who have withdrawn from the Games citing the timing of the event.

Bolt, the Olympic and world 100m and 200m champion, pulled out saying the World Championships in South Korea in 12 month’s time and the 2012 London Olympics have to take priority.

Bolt’s withdrawl was a great opportunity for Powell to take gold once again.

Renowned British cyclist Chris Hoy, a multiple Olympic gold medallist, Jamaican Olympic 100 metres champion Shelly-Ann Fraser are among several top athletes who will not be touring New Delhi.