Eurosport - Mon, 25 Jan 16:23:00 2010
World 800m champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi of South Africa insists he can skipper the Commonwealth Select Team to victory in his first appearance in the International Match at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow on Saturday.
The 29-year-old 2004 Olympic silver medallist is set to compete at Kelvin Hall for the first time as the Commonwealth Select Team bid to defend their crown.
They will face stiff competition from the likes of Great Britain - captained by world heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis - Sweden, the USA and Germany, but Mulaudzi is harbouring hopes of a dream debut.
He said: "This is my first time running at the Aviva International Match but I am very excited, especially because I will also captain the Commonwealth Select Team.
"We are the defending champions of the title and I know the team is strong enough to keep the Aviva Cup.
"Harry (Aikines Aryeetey) will be competitive in the 60m, as will Chandra (Sturrup) in the women's race and Godfrey (Mokoena) is of course the defending world indoor champion, so he will be tough to beat in the long jump.
"I like the concept of competing as a team and I'm looking forward to supporting my fellow Commonwealth teammates, especially in the Commonwealth year.
"It should be a great meet and I can't wait to meet my teammates in Glasgow."
Meanwhile, Commonwealth silver medallist sprint hurdler Chris Baillie has set his sights on clocking a new personal best on home soil.
The Scot will line up against the likes of Olympic bronze medallist David Oliver of the USA and British youngster Gianni Frankis over 60m.
And Baillie, who has been in good form already this season, scooping victory at the Welsh Championships on Saturday, is desperate to improve on his third place in Kelvin Hall in 2008.
"I love coming home to compete on Scottish soil so I'm really looking forward to competing at the Aviva International Match," said Baillie, who has been invited to appear in Glasgow as a guest runner.
"At this event in 2008 I ran my personal best of 7.74 so I'm looking to beat that this time round.
"Running in front of a home crowd is always great motivation and I'm up against some fantastic athletes from the USA, the Commonwealth, Sweden, Germany and Great Britain teams who will push me all the way.
"My training has been going really well and I can't wait to get out on to the track."
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account