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Semenya aiming for gold in New Delhi
World champion runner Caster Semenya has set herself a goal of winning the 800m gold medal at next month's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.
Despite a poor run of form in recent weeks, the South African teenager said on Thursday that she is gearing up for the Commonwealth Games in India and next year's world championships in Daegu, South Korea. Her next race will be in Milan next Thursday.
"Of course I'm going to Delhi to run for gold in the Commonwealth Games," said Semenya, who was only recently cleared to run after being embroiled in an 11-month gender dispute following her 800 world title last year in Berlin. "That's my main event this year."
The 19-year-old Semenya ran two minutes, 7.16 seconds at a meet in Rovereto on Tuesday - much slower than her season's best of 1:59.65 - for her second consecutive loss. She finished third at the Diamond League meeting in Brussels on Friday.
"I'm just preparing for the Commonwealth Games and the world championships next year," Semenya said of her form. "There's the chance to defend my title and then there's the Olympic Games (in 2012). These are all things I am aiming for."
Semenya, however, has been criticised for her lackluster performance in Rovereto, in which she finished ninth.
"We took the view that if she tried to win all these meets when it comes to the Commonwealth Games she wouldn't be able to run well," said her coach, Michael Seme. "So we had to stick to the plan and we are still following these goals for the Commonwealth Games."
Semenya also spoke about 800 rival Pamela Jelimo, the 2008 Olympic champion from Kenya who has struggled since failing to reach the final at the last worlds.
"She just needs to do the basic things," Semenya said. "For
Pamela to come back she needs to do the small meetings, build up
step by step and that should put her back."
