Caster Semenya to take part in Commonwealth Games
August 23rd, 2010 - 10:04 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Aug 23 (IANS) Amidst pullout of some high-profile athletes, there was finally some good news for the Delhi Commonwealth Games organisers Monday as South African world champion middle distance runner Caster Semenya confirmed her participation for the Oct 3-14 Games.
“I’m on the list and they just have to announce the team,” the 19-year-old, who won the 800 metres gold in the World Championship, was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph.
The South African missed the gender test last year after winning her World Championship gold and has made a successful comeback after an 11-month absence following the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) decision to allow her to return.
Semenya says that in India she could reach the timing of 1 min 55.45 sec she ran to claim her world title.
“I can’t estimate the time. It’s possible, but it just depends on the body. It all depends on my coach and how he trains me. I’m quite happy with my performance. I wasn’t expecting to run fast like that. My coach was expecting under two minutes so it was pretty good. I just have to do some more training so I can run faster,” she said.
Semenya said she was delighted to return to the scene of her triumph, insisting she only had “good memories” of the German capital, Berlin.
“It feels good to be back in Berlin. I did not think about everything that happened after my gold medal. I just concentrated on my race and my time. When I won the race, it brought back memories of the 2009 final for me,” she said.
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- Caster Semenya wins comeback race in Finland - Jul 16, 2010
- Caster Semenya plans to make 1,500m bid in 2012 Olympics - Feb 22, 2011
- Semenya skips African Athletics Championships, to focus on CWG - Jul 12, 2010
- Controversial star athlete Caster Semenya talks about life amidst gender row - Nov 14, 2009
- Kenya's Jepkosgei eyes another Olympic medal in London - May 04, 2012
- Semenya's gender tested unknown to her: mother - Sep 13, 2009
- S. African gender row runner Semenya set to race against women - Jul 06, 2010
- 'It's like racing a man', says Semenya's Brit rival after Berlin race - Aug 23, 2010
- IAAF denies allowing Caster Semenya to keep her gold medal - Nov 20, 2009
- IAAF offers to pay for Caster Semenya's gender surgery - Dec 12, 2009
- Caster Semenya a woman? Prove it - Aug 20, 2009
- After World Cup, runner Semenya is South Africa's hope - Jul 12, 2010
- Back injury forces world champ Semenya to pull out of Delhi Commonwealth Games - Sep 29, 2010
- Caster Semenya Cleared to Compete After Gender Confirmed - Jul 07, 2010
Tags: absence, berlin, caster, coach, commonwealth games, daily telegraph, games london, gender test, german capital, gold medal, India, memories, middle distance, organisers, participation, pullout, triumph, two minutes, world champion