Former Olympic champ says she is injury free and ready for gold medal chase

After an injury-plagued two years, former Olympic 1,500 metres champion Nancy Langat believes she is in good enough shape to win the world championship event in Moscow this month.

Langat rose to fame when she upset the rivals to win gold at the Beijing Olympics but has been injury plagued but now say she is in good shape to chase gold at Moscow " Its been a tough journey since 2008 with ankle and knee injuries taking a toll on me but am happy that this year I have been injury free and I want to win the gold in Moscow," Langat said.

Langat said she was happy to enter the championship as an underdog because she says this will lessen pressure on her.

"There will be favourites for the race. I will be the underdog as I have not raced much in the past year. I will be under no pressure on me," added Langat.

Langat competed at the 2011 world championships in Daegu but faired badly, missing out on the final after bowing out in the semifinals with a time of 4:12.92. A knee injury last year saw her missing the Olympics where se was to defend her title.

"I was not in very good shape in 2011. I had soft tissue injuries and I never healed completely. This year I'm in good shape. I have no injuries. I'm relishing the challenge to compete for my country,"added Langat.

Langat competed at the Adidas Grand Prix event in New York where she clocked 4:06.57 to finish fourth. Langat improved her time to 4:01.41 twhile finishing third at the Prefontaine Classic in June behind compatriots Faith Chepngetich and Helen Obiri.

Lagat who turns 32 in this month said a gold medal would be the ideal birthday present for her.

"It will be great to win as I celeberate my 32nd birthday. Kenya are yet to win gold at a wirld championship 1,500m.

Langat said she is helping world junior champion Faith Chepngetich and Helen Obiri tips for the event with both relatively new at the world championship level.

"Im sharing ideas with them as we train together," Langat said.

Langat expects stiff competition from European indoor championships winner Abeba Aregawi, and world junior record holder Hagos Gebrhiwet, Genzebe Dibaba, Morocco 's Lakhouad, Btissam and Shanon Rowbury of the United States.

"It will be a compettive race we have some very good runners from across the wold but we promise to to do our best ," Langat concluded.