NAIROBI, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Olympic silver medalist Julius Yego will return to action at the Paavo Nurmi Games on Tuesday in Turku City, Finland after ending his one month self-imposed ban from competition.
Speaking in Nairobi as he jetted out, Yego said he has learnt to listen to his body and believes his long rest will bear fruit as he returns to competition after starting off rusty in March.
"I lost fitness because of nagging injuries that took long to heal. This has...been rectified and I can feel the former me returning. It will be another stage for me to showcase my ability and record of improvement. I target the 90metres mark, though I only have one results in the 80 meters distance this season," he said.
But the Kenyan will not be at the center of focus as he returns to the country that gave him the first chance to showcase his skills as a 23-year old YouTube athlete.
The men's javelin competition includes German's Andreas Hofmann as the hottest thrower at the moment.
Of the three Germans who have thrown beyond 90 meters this season, the 26-year-old has surpassed that mark in three of his four competitions.
In his last competition in Offenburg, Germany on Saturday he set a best throw of 92.06m while his compatriots, Olympic champion Thomas Rohler and world champion Johannes Vetter, have not thrown beyond 90 meters since the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Doha one month ago.
"They are enjoying their best form at the moment and it will be good to test myself against the world leaders. It will bring out the best in me and hopeful take me where I desire to be on the global ranking order," added Yego.
Vetter started his season with three consecutive 90-metre competitions, including a 92.70m world lead in Leiria, Portugal at the European Cup Winter Throws.
Both Rohler (89.88m) and Vetter (89.34m) went close in Eugene, though. Throwing farther than the Finnish record of 93.09m, set by Aki Parviainen in 1999, will earn the winner an island from the Turku Archipelago. Hofmann's recent form is not far off that mark.
Yego has been struggling with a groin and ankle injury and with it now in his past, the biggest hurdle will be for him to polish his skills and position himself to cement his place against the strong German representation.
Yego will then compete at Ostrava Golden Spike on June 9 having skipped the Shanghai, Eugene and Rome Diamond League meetings.
The 28-year-old is also keen to compete at the Africa Athletics Championships in Asaba, Nigeria on Aug. 1-5.
Only the top two winners from the events will secure ticket to compete for Africa at the IAAF Continental Cup in Ostrava, the Czech Republic in September.
