NAIROBI, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Defending champion Agnes Tirop is hopeful she will hold on firm to retain the title at this year's world 10K Bengaluru road race in India on Sunday.
However, Kenya's 10km world record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei is a late withdrawal from the race citing fatigue after her botched marathon debut in Hamburg last month.
Tirop says she is in better shape than last year when she set a course record at the event in Bengaluru.
Tirop took the bronze medal at the last world championships in London two years ago and, naturally, the Kenyan wants to move further up the podium in Doha in just under five months' time.
"I enjoy running on the roads and especially in Bengaluru as I had a very nice experience last year (where she won and set a course record of 31:19) but my focus is still on the track. I may switch to road running full time in a few years but only after the 2020 Olympics," said Tirop on Saturday.
But she warned her rival it will be no walk in the pack in their bid to dethrone her.
"I'm coming in good shape, I can't say how fast I am going to run but compared to last year I feel one year stronger," added Tirop who will be making her 2019 racing debut on Sunday.
Bahrain's Kenya-born reigning world marathon champion Rose Chelimo will be her main rival. The world 10,000m bronze medalist has had a few races under her belt this year.
"Of course, I hope to defend my title in Doha in the marathon distance. Everything I am doing is aimed to that and I'm not too worried about the fact that the marathon there will be hot. However, I have been preparing specially for this race for the last two weeks and I have prepared well," she said.
The men will be keen to beat of 27:44 course record set by Kenya's Geoffrey Kamworor in 2014 but perhaps the surprise package could be Kamworor's compatriot Paul Tanui.
Tanui has won 10,000m medals on the track at the last three world championships and so there is no doubting his credentials as a top-class competitor but has generally shied away from running over the same distance on the roads, his last outing coming in 2016.
Consequently, he is expected to make a big revision in his personal best of 28:47 in Bengaluru.
"My focus is still on the track and I want to qualify for the world championships again and battle for another medal, but I am looking forward to gauging my body in Bengaluru battling for a top position," said Tanui.
Kenya's 21-year-old Mathew Kimeli, who can boast of a 10km best of 27:11 and has finished first and second in the 2017 and 2018 Berlin 10km races, will be the dark horse in the race.
