Chinese women's discus world champion Li Yanfeng will not compete in the 2013 IAAF World Championships slated for Aug. 10-18 in Moscow, due to a waist injury, her coach confirmed on Monday.

"Li will not go to Moscow as she is still bothered by the waist injury and can not return to her best form," said Li's coach Zhang Jinglong.

The 34-year-old Li claimed the title at the 2011 Daegu worlds in South Korea with a winning mark of 66.52 meters, delivering the first worlds' gold medal in field events for China since Huang Zhihong's victory in the women's shot put in 1993.

In the 2012 London Olympic Games, Li threw 67.22 meters to pocket a bronze medal, which could be upgraded to a silver as the runner-up Darya Pishchalnikova of Russia was tested positive for banned substance after the Games.

After the London Games, Li never managed to maintain systemic training because of the haunting lumbar disc herniation.

According to Zhang, Li only threw a best mark of 58.90m in a warmup in late July and achieved 60.12 in a provincial athletic meet in her hometown Heilongjiang Province last Sunday.

"Li is still not ready for high-level competitions like the World Championships. With her current form, Li even may not be able to make it from the qualification rounds," Zhang said.

"Although she already assured a berth in the worlds as the reigning champion, it will be meaningless or even a blow to her confidence for Li to compete in Moscow," Zhang added.

"Instead of taking the slim chance to defend her world title, Li will stay in China trying to regain her best form and gear up for the National Games in September," Zhang said. "After the National Games, she would go back to her hometown to get married."

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)