Former world marathon silver medallist Vincent Kipruto says he has overcome his loss of fitness and his injury and will be ready to challenge for the title at this Sunday's Fukuoka Marathon.
The 31-year-old Kenyan will be taking part in his third marathon this year, having failed to get to the podium in the first two attempts in Tokyo and Hamburg, reports Xinhua news agency.
"I have been in and out of hospital to get the injury treated. Now I feel strong and fit (and ready) to return to action again. I want to regain top form, like I had in 2011 when I won silver for Kenya at the World Championships in Daegu," Kipruto said.
In Japan in February, he got injured and failed to finish the race while in Germany he was forced to finish in sixth place, clocking a time of 2:10:31.
He blamed the two dismal showings on an ankle injury he carried through the two races. He, however, opted to remain out of competition since April to get his leg healed and he hopes it will pay off as he returns to action after six months.
With a personal best time of 2:05:13 from the Rotterdam Marathon back in 2010, Kipruto is one of the elite runners capable of threatening the course record.
The Kenyan has broken 2:06:00 three times in his career, the first time when winning the 2009 Paris Marathon.
One year later in Rotterdam he improved his best time to 2:05:13, a mark that remains his best to this day. If he's on form, he could challenge the Fukuoka Marathon course record of 2:05:18, held by Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia, set in 2009.
--IANS
gau/bg
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