NAIROBI, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- World Under-20 champion George Manangoi hopes to challenge at the World Indoor Championships, which will be held in Nanjing, China in March.
Manangoi, a specialist in 1,500m race, together with world 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri will be among a horde of elite runners from Kenya who will be keen to excel at the indoor tour, which will culminate with the World Indoor Championships.
The Chinese city of Nanjing was selected to host the 2020 World Indoor Championships over Belgrade (Serbia) and Torun (Poland) by the global athletics governing body IAAF. In 2014 Nanjing hosted the 2014 Olympic Youth Games and will construct a new track and field facility specifically for the World Indoor Championships in the Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park.
Now Manangoi, who missed the chance to win a medal in Doha after he picked up an injury, is hopeful for a return to action and to compete for a spot on the Kenyan team heading to Nanjing in 2020.
"I am looking to resume training next week with the aim of rediscovering my form. I did not finish this year's season well in Doha's World Championships and I have to start righting the wrongs I made. I struggled with a knee injury and I am almost fully fit," said Manangoi.
The 20-year-old will forfeit his Christmas holidays to hit the gym as he seeks to be fit to start early with the Indoor circuit and the Diamond League.
"I want to start early preparations for the IAAF Indoor Tour and the Diamond League which will put me in good shape for the Olympic qualifiers," he added.
The IAAF World Indoor tour, a circuit of seven meetings, will start in Boston on January 25 and conclude in Madrid a month later. IAAF has drafted in Lievin, France to the circuit where athletes will earn points to qualify for the World Indoor Championships that will take place on March 13-15 next year.
