Asher-smith remains focused as worries continue over Olympics

Dina Asher-smith says she is staying “ready and focused” for the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games to take place this summer.

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach was recently forced to deny that the Games could be pushed back in the Olympic cycle or even moved to another city.

He also rejected suggestions that staging the Games, which are due to start on July 23, amid the current coronavirus pandemic may be seen as irresponsible.

Asked if a contingency needs to be put in place if the Games cannot go ahead as planned, sprinter Ashersmith, 25, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I will leave that to the IOC and the people who have been working extremely hard to prepare this, and are very good at their decision-making skills.

“I could say that (we need a plan B) but I know absolutely nothing about the intricacies of organising an Olympic Games.

“It is very, very easy for those on the outside to be saying what should be done, what can be done, but I don’t know the economics of it, the politics of it, and I don’t know how strategically it is going to work.

“From my perspective, we have to stay ready, stay focused, because this is what we have prepared for.”

Asher-smith has not competed in an international race since winning the world 200 metres title in October 2019.

But the Brit, an Olympic bronze medallist in the 4x100m relay in Rio, returned to the track at the World Athletics Indoor Tour event in Karlsruhe, Germany, yesterday.

Dina Asher-smith is still preparing for Tokyo games.