Sum ready to roar again after quiet stint

Former World 800m champion Eunice Sum is working her way out towards reclaiming her gold at the 2019 World Championships to be held in Doha, Qatar.

The 30-year old hit the headlines at the 2013 World Championships held in Moscow, Russia where she emerged as a surprise winner destroying a strong field at the Luzhniki Stadium that comprised of the then Olympic Champion Mariya Savinova of the host country.

A year later and Sum’s star was once again shining as she clinched gold medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games as well as African Championships.

Sum would however fail to defend her title at the 2015 World Championships held in Beijing, China where she settled for a bronze medal before falling at the preliminary stages at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

After another year of little action where she finished ninth at the African Championships, Sum says she has already started build ups after assessing her season alongside her coach in a bid to turn things around.

“For sure I did not have a good outing last season and therefore I have already sat down with my coach in order to review my training which we intend to improve on ahead of next year,” said the Kasses, Uasin Gishu born athlete.

Apart from the local events, Sum is also set to participate at the IAAF Diamond League in readiness for the World Championships that comes at the end of next year.

“World Championships is a very important competition for me and therefore I will be using the Diamond League in readiness for the Doha Championships,” the 2013 IAAF Diamond League series winner added.

The athlete from Kesses in Uasin Gishu County also attributed her poor run to the age factor as well as a hamstring injury that hit her last season.

“I’m no longer young anymore which is also a factor in athletics. Also, I suffered a hamstring injury last season but I have recovered well and I am now fully fit,” averred Sum who hopes to participate in both 800m and 1500m.

“There is no much difference between 800m and 1500m and thus I’m going to talk with my coach and see if I can compete in the two events but for the World Championships I’m planning to participate in the 800m,” revealed Sum.

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Doha Eunice Sum World 800m champion

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