Metu looks forward to Daegu 2011 challenge

Former Nigeria 100m male champion, Obinna Metu is ready to challenge the best runners in the 100m when the IAAF Wolrd challenge begins in August.

According to Metu, there is nothing to fear when the time comes as he is ready to run against Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell in Korea.

Speaking on the backdrop of his losing to new Nigeria champion, Ogho-Oghene Egwero in the 100m men race during the 65th All Nigeria/Cross River Athletrics Championship, the Business Management undergraduate student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka said he lost because he was concentrating on his final exams in school so did not give much time to athletics.

"I am fully ready to run against the world best in the 100m in August. There is nothing to fear when the time comes because these days in athletics, names don't scare people. You can only win when you are ready and I am fully fit to face Bolt, Powel and Tayson Gay in August.

"I lost the 100m race to Egwero because I was not fully prepared, I was preparing for my first semester final exams, so I really did not prepare well and all I was doing was to make the time standard that will take me to Korea."

Metu, coached by the former national sprinter Uchenna Emedolu, has a personal best time over 100 metres of 10.16 seconds set in 2008.

In the 100m men event during the All Nigeria qualifiers in Calabar, Metu settled for the silver medal behind Egwero with 11.35 seconds. Egwero won the gold with 11.34 seconds.

But he came on strongly on Saturday to win the 200m gold with a time of 20.84 ahead of Ukoli Elvis who took the silver in 21.22 seconds.