NAIROBI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- World 1500m champion Elijah Manangoi of Kenya is a man on a mission as he leads the Kenyan team to the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, which start on Thursday.
A hamstring injury, which caused him to fall in the semifinals in Glasgow, denied him a shot at the medals, but the 25-year old has since made amends and gone on to win the World Championships in London. But he still feels haunted by the ghost of Glasgow.
"It still haunts me. That hamstring injury ruined my chances in Glasgow and though this is part and parcel of any sportsman, I always want to conquer my own challenges then focus on winning on the international stage," he said on Tuesday in Nairobi.
The athletics team of 65 will be among the last team leaving Nairobi for Gold Coast, and Manangoi, who was made captain, has his work cut out for him.
Kenya has always had a dominant performance in the 1,500m distance and winning in Gold Coast will be the least the fans will be targeting.
In 2010, Silas Kiplagat and James Magut won gold and silver in the games held in Delhi, India before Magut went for glory in 2014 with Ronald Kwemoi picking the silver.
Manangoi will team up with world 1,500m silver medalist Timothy Cheruiyot and world Junior 1,500m champion Kumari Taki. A sweep of the medals on offer is what the Kenyan team is plotting for.
"It's possible and we are going for it 100 per cent. Personally, I have to lead by example and that is the title I want," he said.
After the Commonwealth Games, Manangoi will launch his track competition at the Shanghai Diamond League meeting on May 12.
Timothy Cheruiyot won the Diamond Trophy last year and Manangoi believes winning in this year's circuit will inspire him ahead of next year's World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
