Glasgow: The Indian public were left high and dry when Usain Bolt decided to give Commonwealth Games in Delhi, a miss four years back but the Jamaican legend today explained that it was the World Championship in 2011 that stopped him from taking part in the previous edition.
“I had always wanted to be in the Commonwealth Games and I had thought of taking part since 2006. I was injured before Melbourne Games and I missed it. Then Delhi Games happened in October-November at end of season and it was bad timing. I had Wolrd Championships coming up (in 2011) and so I did not make it to Delhi,” Bolt said at a press conference here.
“This year also, I got injured early in the year but I told my coach that I want to take part in Glasgow. The fitness guys did a fantastic job and I am completely fit now. Only thing is that I don't want to push myself to the limit and I did not want to go to the trials. That is why I am going to run in the 4x100m relay,” said Bolt, greatest sprinter to have ever graced the track.
He refused to buy the line that the Commonwealth Games has lost relevance and that's why lot of big stars don't want to compete in these Games.
“I think most of the big missed out due to injury and it happens in the Olympics and World Championships. For me, Commonwealth Games is big and it is big in Jamaica. We looked upto these Games,” he said.
“As long there are athletes and there is a competition, then nobody cannot just take it lightly. Every athlete works hard and wants to give his best. We should respect that. That happens in every walk of life not in sports only,” Bolt said when asked about big stars taking CWG lightly due to perceived lack of competition.
The recent to pull out is long distance king Mo Farah of England citing lack of recovery from injury.
Bolt said he was here to run in the Games and not come here under pressure from anybody, including the organisers and his sponsors.
“I have not come here under pressure from anybody, not from the organisers or the sponsors. I have come here to ru. I am definitely running in the 4x100m relay,” he said.
“This is going to be my first competition in the season and I want to make my fans happy. I am for my fans.”
