Yego turns to Commonwealth Games after London upset

Olympics javelin silver medalist Julius Yego now has his eyes fixed on next year’s Commonwealth Games after failing to defend his World title at the just concluded championships in London.

Yego had qualified for the finals after throwing 83m in Thursday’s qualifiers before a groin tear saw the man nicknamed The YouTube Man mount little defense of the title he won at the Beijing 2015 edition of the global track and field competition.

Yego thus relinquished his title to Germany’s Johannes Vetter who threw 89.89m for gold with the Kenyan managing only 76.29. The Czech pair of Jakub Vadlejch (89.73m) and Petr Frydrych (88.32m) claimed the silver and bronze medals.

“I made it to the finals but I was unlucky due to the partial tear on my groin and thigh but that happens in sport,” Yego told Citizen Digital on Tuesday at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as the Team Kenya that finished second overall behind USA returned to the country.

“What made me loose the title is an injury that I sustained just a week to the competition, the team doctors did everything they could to treat me but unfortunately I did not heal in time,” added Yego.

Yego became the first Kenyan to win a gold medal in javelin in World Championships after throwing an impressive 92.72m two years ago in Beijing, China.

The 28-year-old will be the defending champion when he heads to Gold Coast, Australia after he won the Commonwealth crown in 2014. Back then, he threw a winning 83.87m.

“I am positive I will come back stronger. This year I didn’t perform so well and many people may be disappointed but I am going to seek medication and hopefully I will be ready for next year,” Yego said.

The next edition of the Commonwealth Games will be held between April 4-15 next year.

-Report by Gilbert Kiprotich.

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Javelin Julius Yego IAAF World Athletics Championships 2018 Commonwealth Games

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