ELDORET, Kenya, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- World champion Beatrice Chepkoech from Kenya said here Friday that she is focused on the World Indoor Championships, which will be held in March 2020, in Nanjing, China.

Chepkoech, who set the world record in Monaco of 8 minutes and 44.32 seconds last year, said she plans to compete in the indoor circuit over the 1,500m distance as part of her preparations for the 2020 Olympic Games.

The 28-year-old said she will limit the number of races she intends to compete in at the Diamond League and focus on the Indoor circuit, where she eyes to improve on her speed and finishing kick.

"I want to add the Olympic and World Indoor titles to my name. However, I will have limited appearances at the Diamond League," she said.

Kenya managed only one bronze medal from the last World Indoor Championships but will be keen to select a formidable team for the tour of China. The World Indoor Championships will be held in Nanjing from March 13-15, 2020.

"With the 1,500m race, I intend to gain a lot of speed and then I will move to outdoor where I plan to run the 3,000m flat race and that will also push me to get that speed endurance (for the steeplechase)," she said.

Chepkoech lamented on the decision by World Athletics to drop steeplechase from the main races at the Diamond League. She said it leaves her no option but focusing on indoor and the Olympics.

"It was a blow to us athletes running in the water and hurdle race. Now I have to focus on the Olympics because there is no more final in the Diamond League," she added.

Chepkoech holds a best time of 4:02.21 in the 1,500m race from Glasgow, Scotland in 2018 and hopes she can improve on it prior to heading to China. Enditem

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