Manyonga fine after injury fear
DISCOMFORT: LONG JUMPER TO HAVE SCAN BACK HOME
SA star gains valuable experience in Stockholm.
Luvo Manyonga remains on track for his podium charge at the World Championships, his management team insists, after South Africa’s long jump sensation seemingly sidestepped a major injury scare at the weekend.
Manyonga picked up an ankle niggle at the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm on Sunday, less than two months ahead of the World Championships in London.
“Although he is in slight pain I am confident that it is nothing se- rious,” his agent Lee-Roy Newton said yesterday.
The Olympic silver medallist had lined up as the firm favourite in the Swedish capital, after leaping beyond 8.60m in his previous four successive competitive appearances.
Though he was well short of his 8.65m world lead, he produced a wind-aided jump of 8.36m, landing seven centimetres clear of second-placed compatriot Ruswahl Samaai to remain unbeaten this season.
Following his final attempt, Manyonga lay in the pit and clutched his left leg in obvious discomfort.
While it was believed the niggle would not derail his season, Manyonga would go for a scan at the Tuks/HPC later this week as a precaution, after returning home from a successful European tour.
His coach Neil Cornelius felt his latest performance in a choppy wind would give him valuable experience, in case the battle for the global title was held in similar conditions.
The early favourite for the world title, Manyonga was well clear at the top of the global rankings in his specialist event, with countrymen Samaai (8.49m), Zarck Visser (8.22m) and Khotso Mokoena (8.19m) all listed among the top 10, as they geared up for an assault on the final in the English capital.
“I honestly think Luvo’s performance in Stockholm is one of his best,” Cornelius said.
“He proved that he can keep his cool in difficult conditions and that is comforting because one never knows what might happen during the World Championships.”