NAIROBI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha of Kenya is doubtful if he will be ready for the World Championships, which will be staged in Doha, Qatar in October.
The 29-year-old says despite his having overcome his injury troubles, he still has a mountain to climb in a bid to return to his best form and compete at the highest level against a battery of hungry and young upcoming athletes eyeing his throne.
"I cannot confirm now if I will be available for selection and ready to compete at the World Championships. However, I still feel energetic and there's still a big room for improvement," Rudisha said on Wednesday in Nairobi.
"I want to recapture the world title, which I failed to defend in London, but that can only happen if I am ready, healthy and focused."
His absence from competition has seen Rudisha gain weight as he has been in and out of the country seeking medication to his nagging hamstring and backbone injuries.
Now he has started training and hopes to shade more calories and return to top form. However, he will not be ready for the start of the IAAF Diamond League in Doha on May 3.
Confirming his plans, Rudisha believes he will be ready to challenge for the medals at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 before thinking of finally hanging up his running spikes.
"I have my plans and it is my hope that I will be fit and healthy to defend my Olympic title next year in Tokyo. Right now I just want to focus on returning back to action, have some competition under my belt and listen to my body. There is no room for negative distractions because I take each day at a time," he added.
The 800m world record holder has rued injury to have denied him almost two years of competition. He had set the world record of 1:40.91 at the London Olympic Games, his third time to break the mark.
"I had a setback in my rehabilitation with the sitting bone injury that delayed my recovery especially before the Diamond League season last year. The first problem I had was with my knee. I had a problem with my right knee which led to a problem with the sitting bone," he said.
"I will not be rushing to competition, until I feel am 100 per cent ready. Around April is when I'll know where my form is and which race I will compete in," Rudisha added.
Over nine years ago, Rudisha announced his ability in the two lap race when he shuttered the world record at the Berlin meeting clocking 1:41.09.
A week later in Italy, he lowered the record to 1:41.01 and became the youngest-ever person to win the prestigious IAAF World Athlete of the Year award.
The following season he claimed his first world title in Daegu, South Korea, before winning his first Olympic title at London 2012 a year later in a world and games record of 1:40.91. He remains the only athlete to have broken the one minute and 41 second barrier in 800m.
