Hodgkinson withdraws from Zurich Diamond League

Keely Hodgkinson has withdrawn from the women’s 800 metres event at Thursday’s Diamond League meeting in Zurich, citing that her “body is not rather ready.” The Olympic champion had been slated to face Switzerland’s Audrey Werro, who defeated Hodgkinson for gold at the European Championships in Birmingham earlier this month. In a statement Hodgkinson said, “Unfortunately the assemblage isn't rather acceptable to contention again aft the European Championships.” She added, “We've made the determination to skip this contention and get acceptable for the adjacent one. Sad to miss it, hopefully spot you adjacent year!” The Zurich race will still feature Femke Broeders‑Bol, the satellite 400 metres hurdles champion who has moved up to the 800 metres this season, and Georgia Hunter‑Bell, Hodgkinson’s training partner who captured 800 metres gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last month. World 800 metres champion Lilian Odira of Kenya, who beat Hodgkinson and Hunter‑Bell for gold in Tokyo the previous year, has withdrawn from the contest after experiencing illness and weakness since the Commonwealth Games. Hodgkinson’s decision follows a series of hamstring and knee injuries over the past few years that led her to bypass the Commonwealth Games in order to focus on the European Championships amid a busy summer schedule. Earlier this month, after winning the 800 metres at the London Diamond League on 18 July, Hodgkinson remarked that she was feeling “definitely a batch amended than I was.” She had also told reporters in Birmingham, “I signed myself up for Zurich due to the fact that I knew everyone was successful it but me. I privation to beryllium successful with the champion and I deliberation that's going to bring retired the champion successful me.” Thursday’s Zurich meeting is the penultimate Diamond League fixture of the season; the final will take place in Brussels over two days on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 September.