The World Champion in the Men’s 1500m race Elijah Manangoi will miss this year’s IAAF World Athletic Championships in Doha due to an ankle injury.
Manangoi missed the Kenyan team trials at Nyayo Stadium last week and was hoping to be fully recovered in time for the Championships but that has not been the case. With Manangoi out, Timothy Cheruiyot, who has been in outstanding form this season winning his third consecutive Diamond League title and looks as a favorite to win the World title will again line up in the men’s 1500m finals.
Also representing Kenya in the race will be Manangoi’s younger brother Geroge Manangoi who is also the World Junior Champion alongside Ronald Kwemoi.
“Sad that I am not able to defend my 1,500m title in Doha WC due to an ankle injury I picked in training. I had no choice; we have to safe career for the sake of Olympics Games. It is not my fault but God knows the reason why. All my fans in the world continue having faith in me. All the best to my teammates, World silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot and my younger brother World Junior champion George Manangoi and Ronald Kwemoi.
Bring it back home guys,” Manangoi posted on his official Facebook page.
The 26-year-old Manangoi won first competed in the World Championships at the 2015 event in Beijing where he won Silver and finally achieved his dream two years late by winning gold in the 2017 Championships in London, England.
The Championships start on the 22nd of September to the 6th of October.