Asafa Powell says he is favourite to win World title
August 25th, 2011 - 5:38 pm ICT by IANSDaegu (South Korea), Aug 25 (IANS/CMC) He enters the World Championships without a major title but Jamaican Asafa Powell has still installed himself as the favourite to win the marquee 100 metres title here next week.
Powell has ignored the fact that fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt is the reigning World and Olympic champion, the world record-holder and has lost just once in two years.
“I am the number one sprinter right now, I’ve got the fastest times this year, I would say I am the man to beat,” Powell told the Daily Mail.
“I haven’t been to a major championship feeling 100 per cent good before, and hopefully that’s going to happen this time.”
The 28-year-old clocked a world-leading 9.78 seconds at the Diamond League Athletissima in Lausanne in June, to set tongues wagging.
And though he has been impressive on the circuit this season, he is well known for choking at big events.
He shockingly finished fifth in the final at the Beijing Olympics three years ago and could only muster bronze at the last World Championships in Berlin in 2009.
On both occasions he was forced to watch as Bolt took the spotlight with amazing record runs but is adamant he is not intimidated by his countryman.
“I don’t get intimidated because I’m a professional athlete and I appreciate the benefits that Usain has brought to track and field,” Powell explained.
“He has made it more exciting and brought a lot more interest. We are friends off the track and enemies when we are competing.
“I am not intimidated easily but being on the start line, some of the smaller guys might be, and they’ll wonder if they can ever beat him.”
The World Championships runs from Aug 27 to Sep 4.
–IANS/CMC
av/dg
- Powell issues warning to Bolt by winning in Hungary - Jul 31, 2011
- Tired Bolt eyes world-leading time in Brussels - Sep 16, 2011
- Olympics: Blake downplays experience factor in 100m contest - Aug 02, 2012
- World Athletics Championship: Jamaican minister laments Powell 100m exit - Aug 27, 2011
- Bolt escapes unhurt in a minor car crash - Jun 11, 2012
- Grenadian James makes stunning pro debut at Diamond League - Aug 06, 2011
- Bolt squares off with Powell again in Oslo - Jun 07, 2012
- Olympics: Bolt, Blake headline weekend track action - Aug 03, 2012
- Bolt sparkles but upstaged by amazing Blake - Sep 17, 2011
- Bolt makes retaining titles a priority ahead of World Championships - Aug 22, 2011
- Confident Bolt reminds fans of big day status - Aug 26, 2011
- Bolt confirmed for Weltklasse Zurich - May 17, 2012
- Blake stuns Bolt for second time to win 200m - Jul 02, 2012
- Bolt cruises to 200m win but falls short of record - Jul 30, 2011
- Powell eyes London Olympics to end title drought - Aug 28, 2011
Tags: asafa powell, athletissima, beijing olympics, berlin, countryman, daily mail, dg, enemies, lausanne, occasions, olympic champion, olympics, professional athlete, south korea, spotlight, sprinter, tongues, usain bolt, world championships, world record holder