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Sports / Newsmaker
Isinbayeva takes centre stage in Osaka
(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-08-28 11:22
OSAKA, Japan - Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva takes centre stage
at the world championships on Tuesday, promising something special for
the Japanese crowd.
Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia prepares for her pole vault event at the
"Golden Spike" grand prix athletics meeting in the North Moravian town of
Ostrava in the Czech Republic, June 27, 2007. [Reuters]
The world record holder is the hottest of favourites for gold, fears none
of her rivals, and providing the weather suits is planning a party.
"My main goal is to win," Isinbayeva said before the championships. "And
if I have the chance, I will try to (provide) something great for the
Japanese crowd."
Brimming with confidence, she says there are no human barriers to her
success.
"I know if I do my best, it is impossible for somebody to beat me," the
Olympic and world champion said.
"There's no chance for anybody. Sorry, it's like this."
"I don't care about my rivals," she said. "More important and more
dangerous is myself."
She does recognise, though, that the weather can be a factor.
"From my previous experience competing in Japan, I know the weather is
really terrible there," the world record holder told Russian media.
"The humidity is 90 percent, plus the fog. It makes pole vaulting very
difficult, so we'll see what happens," she said when asked about the
possibility of smashing her 2005 world record.
On the track, men's newly crowned 100m champion Tyson Gay begins his
quest for the sprint double in the 200m with two rounds of qualifying
heats.
The United States are hoping for a one-two finish in the 400m hurdles
while back on the field Lithuanian Virgilijus Alekna goes for his third
discus title.
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