Namibia’s Tokyo Olympics star Christine Mboma is back in training.
The 19-year-old speedster had been out of action since May this year when she sustained a thigh injury at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, Kenya.
Coach Henk Botha yesterday told New Era Sport Mboma’s injury is “fairly” healed, and she is in reintegration training.
“We are starting training today (yesterday), and it’s like rehab training; we will take it step by step. As far as the injury is concerned, it’s fairly healed but we will look at doing reconstruction in the off-season – that’s December, but there is a 50-50 call on that decision,” he said.
Mboma was running the 100m race when midway, she slowed down, clutched her upper thigh and tumbled to the ground in agony.
She tore a muscle on her left upper thigh, which was caused by a problem with the growth plate in her hip.
Mboma was testing herself against multiple World and Olympic sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce over the shorter distance.
It was their first meeting in the 100m since Mboma beat her to the finish line in 200m at the Tokyo Games last year to win silver.
Mboma, who is also a World Athletics U/-20 200 metres gold medallist, will be taking training “step by step”, Botha said, adding that they do not want to rush anything for now.
The injury also kept her out of the recent African Athletics Championships, held in Mauritius.
Botha yesterday revealed the possibility of her competing at the Commonwealth Games is “high”, but that would be determined by how she responds during training.
But competing in the World Championship, which starts on 15 July in the USA, is not possible.
“For now, it seems like the possibility of Commonwealth is there, but a no for World Champs,” he said.
The Commonwealth Games are set for 28 July to 8 August in Birmingham, England.
– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na