Olympic champion Rudisha says he will defend his 800m title

Nairobi, July 3 (IANS) Olympic 800-metre champion David Rudisha of Kenya Monday said he is up to the task in his quest to defend his title at the London World Championships despite posting dismal performances in the last three competitive meeting.

The 800m world record holder (1:40.91) has had to watch as his apprentice take over the honours in the last three meetings, the latest being a 1,000m competition in Ostrava, Czech Republic, last week, but he remained resolute he will successfully defend his world title in London.

"It's so exciting to run something beyond my limits but I know myself and I want to defend my crown in London. It is not easy, but I have been through this," Rudisha said.

Rudisha opened the season with loss in Shanghai Diamond meeting in May, was beaten in Kingston during a special meeting organised in honour of Usain Bolt, and had to settle for second in Ostrava.

But the king of 800m is biding his time and knows he has the space to peak at the right moment ahead of the London World Championships in August.

"Looking at my performances, I'm not very disappointed, though I wanted to win each race. Such reality is what I need to gauge myself because I have done enough to find my way but it is evident, I need to push myself further and polish my finishing," said Rudisha.

Rudisha has to convince the selectors to offer him a wild card after he skipped the Kenyan trials last month.

"I have not done speed work and that is what I should focus for me to get the best performance come August," he added.

The men's 800m team will have Rudisha riding on wild card selection and Olympic and world champion, US-based Emmanuel Korir, Kipyegon Bett and Ferguson Rotich seeking to relegate the king of 800m Rudisha to the sidelines.

"I have a history that people tend to forget since I got injured. Like last year, I have been in that kind of a form, just peaking, getting to the top slowly and now it's about making sure that by August I'm in my top form," he said.

Now he will focus more on short distance training running 600m and 400m race before heading to camp where he hopes the coaches will aide him in dusting off the rust to secure the required form to sail through and defend his crown in London when the World championships starts from August 4-13.

"There is no need to panic. In my problems, I always find a way to counter it and bounce back. I hope to do it when it matters most in London," said Rudisha.