NAIROBI, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Though the world is ruling the coronavirus wreck on the sports calendar, for former World Indoor 3,000m champion Caleb Ndiku this might be a blessing in disguise as he returns from injury.
Ndiku, who won silver at the 2015 Beijing World Championships, was hoping to make amends and win gold on his second attempt at the Olympics after his debut in 2016 ended in tears in Rio Games.
The 28-year-old was disappointed when a back problem and left leg injury saw him almost walk to the finish point in Rio to finish in 18th in the 5,000m race.
He thought he would overcome it and return to action immediately, but for four years, Ndiku has battled for his career and only got back to action in 2020.
"I was not certain if I would return to form and make the Kenya team. But now that they have pushed back the Games by a year, I have high hopes, it will do me a great deal and a chance to rectify my mistakes four years ago and win a medal at the Olympics, which is the only one missing in my collection," Ndiku said on Sunday from Machakos.
The Kenyan was earlier based in Japan and holds Tokyo in high esteem. But he has his own battle to overcome besides the coronavirus, to return to fitness now that the injuries have healed and stake claim to his spot on the high table.
"I want that Olympic gold medal. That is what I am missing in my career," he said.
"I got back to action in 2018, but I was pushing myself too hard. My body snapped. It could not handle it. But the good thing is that I was still young and could heal in time and get back to competition, which I have done patiently."
Now he is keen to clinch the elusive Olympic Games gold.
Ndiku draws his inspiration from over a decade ago when as a bubbling teenager, he was overlooked for the trip to Addis Ababa to compete at the Africa championships in what he termed was not down to merit but 'political' instigation.
"I went home and decided not to venture in athletics anymore. I even stopped training," Ndiku said.
"But my coach encouraged me on and indeed, I returned in 2009 stronger. I ran still angry and I knew I had to win to ensure that if they decide to cut me off again, they will be dropping the winner at the trials," he added.
Now with that still stuck in his mind, Ndiku wants to challenge his body to get back into the optimum form and stake claim to the ticket to Tokyo 2021 and have a chance to battle the world's greatest to win gold in the 5,000m race, which has eluded Kenya for a long time.
Ndiku hopes to build his speed and endurance through the Diamond League and World Athletics continental tour series whenever the health situation returns to normal and sports action resumes.
