Africa's speed man defies doctors, aims for victory

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Algiers, July 19: Africa's fastest man Olusoji Fasuba of Nigeria defied doctors advice to skip the All Africa Games and is now on the threshold of another conquest.

Slotted to run in the 100 metres final, the Commonwealth Games silver medalist is the runaway favourite for the race.

''I suffered a back problem some time back and it has been troubling me,'' 23-year-old Fasuba told Reuters.

''In fact, I was advised by doctors not to come for these games to heal, but my coach said even with 80 percent fitness I still stood a good chance of winning.

''It was a bit sore after the semi-finals today but it should be fine for the final,'' he added.

Fasuba, who has a Nigerian father and a mother from the Caribbean, said the back problem forced him to skip races in Europe.

Fasuba, who won African Championship titles in 2004 and 2006, leads a strong Nigerian sprint team tipped to retain the men's and women's 100m events.

Reuters>