By Adrian  Mwanza –
ZAMBIAN star runner Gerald Phiri is ‘praying’ to get a good report from his medical team after an injury at the Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA) Senior Challenge in South Africa threatened his participation in the Rio Olympics later this year.
After qualifying to the finals of the 100m dash at the African challenge in Durban, South Africa, Phiri felt some pain in the hip and when looked at, was advised to stay away from the final. He also pulled out of the Zambia 4x100m relay team.
The relay team improvised and still managed to get to the final where they earned a bronze medal.
Phiri has since returned to his base in the United States of America and is scheduled to meet his medical team that would assess his condition and determine whether he would be fit to compete in the Rio Games.
He said his hip was a bit painful but that he would remain hopeful of getting a full recovery before the start of the Olympics.
“Yesterday, I did some slow running; I’ll gradually build up my fitness in the next few days after seeing my doctor and physiotherapist,” he said.
Phiri said he was hopeful that his medical team would give him a positive report and advise him on the Olympics.
“I’m supposed to compete in two competitions in July but will have to decide with my team whether it will be possible or not,” he said.
Phiri said he would force himself to be in the right shape in order for him to compete at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.