Team spot surprises Jobodwana

SPRINTER Anaso Jobodwana has reacted with surprise at being named in the South African team for the world indoor championships in the US next month.

Jobodwana, who won the bronze medal in the 200m behind Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin at the outdoor world championships in Beijing last year, said he had asked Athletics SA that he not be included in the team.

In an e-mail responding to questions about his upcoming season, Jobodwana said: “Being selected is news to me.

I had sent an e-mail to [ASA telling them] that I was not availing myself for the world indoor champs. “And also, I didn’t receive an e-mail or notification that I had been included in the team.”

US-based Jobodwana, who was selected to do the 60m, said he did not know his race schedule yet, but he expected he would begin competing again around April. He was one of 11 members named for the team for the world indoor champs in Portland, US, from March 17-20.

It is not the first time Jobodwana has been selected against his wishes. In Beijing he was entered in the 100m despite wanting to focus only on the 200m.

The only way he could get out of the 100m race – to save energy for the longer sprint – was to false-start in the heats.