NAIROBI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Olympic javelin silver medalist Julius Yego is not under pressure to deliver gold at the Commonwealth Games even as he seeks to redeem his career after shaking off an ankle and groin injury.
Yego together with 3,000m steeplechase champion Jonathan Muia Ndiku are the only gold medallist in the Kenya team returning to the games.
"I know many people opted not to compete at the Commonwealth Games, but to me it provides a chance to start again after a tough 2017," he said on Tuesday. "It is always an honour to represent Kenya at any level of competition."
Muia, who has since gone a gear up to 10,000m will have much to prove having been kicked out of steeplechase due to chocking competition from upcoming youngsters including World Champion Conseslus Kipruto, who is also the Olympic Champ.
Others in the team are Africa 3000m steeplechase bronze medalist Abraham Kibiwott and World Junior champion Amos Kirui. In the 10,000m race, Muia will team up with Rodgers Kwemoi and Josephat Bett.
Lack of form, loss of interest played out as the elite runners shunned the games. They include James Magut (1500m), Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku (5000m), Eunice Sum (800m), Faith Kipyegon (1500m), Mercy Cherono (5000m), Joyce Chepkirui (10,000m), Purity Kirui (3,000m SC), Flomena Cheyech (Marathon).
Both Cherono and Kipyegon are out on maternity leave while other stars like Olympic 800m champion, who won silver in Glasgow, are not keen to go down and under for the games and instead would wait for the lucrative IAAF Diamond League, a 14-tier competition, which starts in Doha in May.
Their absence also cast a spanner on Kenya's hopes at the Africa Championships in August in Morocco.
Of the 25 medals Kenya claimed in Glasgow, 23 came from track and field competition while weightlifting and Paralympic added one each.
Head coach Japheth Kemei said it is the athletes' decision to choose where they want to compete and added that it will be wrong to look down on the team of 65 athletes selected for the games as they can surprise anyone.
"They are strong in their own capacity. When you look at the marathon team, they have run very fast time, but it because we have so many athletes that we take such events with ease, but the caliber of talent on parade is world class," he said.
