Keely out as thigh’s the limit
KEELY HODGKINSON pulled out of the World Indoor Championships to hit British medal chances in Belgrade.
Hodgkinson, who has been in impressive earlyseason form, was red-hot favourite to win gold in today’s 800m final.
But the 20-year-old was struggling to overcome a thigh injury and the Olympic silver medallist ended up opting out of yesterday’s heat.
She said: “I’ve been struggling with a bit of a niggle all week and tried everything I can to fix it and get myself ready.
“With such a busy outdoors schedule at this stage of the season, we decided it just wasn’t worth it.
“Quite clearly I have a weakness there with my quads, which I have to fix, so that’s where I’m at.
“I’ve never had to pull out of a race before and it’s not nice.
“It’s about looking at the bigger picture. It’s upsetting but I have to move on from it.”
Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh won high-jump gold – after driving for three days from her war-torn homeland to compete.
The 20-year-old set a world-leading clearance of 2.02m to claim the title.
She was in third having cleared 2.00m before posting her winning jump with her first attempt at the height.
“It was very important for me, my family, my country,” Mahuchikh said.
“For me, coming here was difficult – three days by car – and to jump here was so difficult psychologically because my heart remains in my country.”