BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Sprint superstar Usain Bolt will miss this year’s Commonwealth Games in India, his coach Glen Mills has confirmed.
Organisers were hoping the World record holder in the 100 and 200 metres would show up for the October 3-14 Games scheduled for Delhi, but the latest announcement is sure to be a huge blow.
“Bolt made it known long ago that he is not going to the Commonwealth Games,” Mills said.
Bolt’s absence is expected to allow him to continue his preparation for the London 2012 Olympics where he will defend his sprint titles in the 100 and 200 metres.
Before that, the 23-year-old will also defend both sprint titles at next year’s World Championship in Daegu, South Korea.
It will be the second successive time Bolt has missed the Commonwealth Games after pulling out of the 2006 edition in Melbourne because of injury.
He will also be a no-show at the Jamaica National Championships next weekend, another meet Mills said the Jamaican was never carded to attend.
“He was never down to run at trials,” Mills said.
Bolt is currently on the mend from an Achilles tendon injury which forced him out of the last IAAF Diamond League event in New York.
He has already shown glimpses of his ominous form this year, posting 19.56 seconds in the 200 metres in Jamaica g earlier this month before returning to run 9.86 seconds in the 100 metres in Daegu.
