Asher-Smith injury gives home sprint hopes a jolt
DINA ASHER-SMITH, England’s Poster Girl of Birmingham 2022, is out of the Commonwealth Games with the injury she suffered at the World Championships in Eugene.
But Britain’s No.1 sprinter quickly allayed any concerns of a major problem. The Games open in Birmingham tonight and Asher-Smith, 26, was one of England’s leading gold-medal hopes in the 100m and 4x100m relay.
She pulled up midway through her leg of the relay final on Saturday but still managed to complete it, handing the baton to team-mate Daryll Neita as Britain finished sixth.
She said: “Thankfully I’ve only got a light hamstring strain. No major issue and nothing to worry about.
“But due to the short turnaround between the end of the Worlds and start of the Commonwealth Games I’m going to have to withdraw.
“I was so excited to race in front of a home crowd and all the British fans.
“It’s going to be such an amazing competition and I know Team England will do you all proud.
“I’m looking forward to representing you all throughout the rest of the summer and wishing the best of luck to all my team-mates.”
Asher-Smith was aiming for her first individual Commonwealth gold medal, having won 200m bronze and relay gold on the Gold Coast in 2018.
In Eugene, having equalled her British 100m record of 10.83 as she finished fourth, the British sprinter then won a superb bronze in a sensational 200m before injury struck in the relay final.
Asher-Smith is the defending 100m and 200m champion at the European Championships which begin in Munich next month.