SHANGHAI, China, CMC – Jamaican sprint wonder Usain Bolt will make his long-awaited debut in the IAAF Diamond League here today, headlining a star-studded cast that will take centre stage at the Golden Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old double World record holder will run the 200 metres and once again all eyes will be more focused on the clock rather than the finish, with the long-striding six-footer expected to dismiss his competition and win easily.
Already this year, Bolt has run a world-leading 19.56 seconds and fans and pundits will be anxious to see if the 100 and 200 metres World and Olympic champion can lower that time.

As usual, Bolt was quick to play down talk of a new World record, stressing that he was just focused on running fast and winning the event.

“I don’t know how close I can get. I’ll try to run hard to execute as I am always keen to give my fans a good show. That’s always my aim,” Bolt told reporters.

He is coming off an easy win in Daegu, South Korea on Wednesday where he sped to a world-leading 9.86 seconds in his first 100 metres event of the season.

Bolt said while there were improvements to be made, he was relatively pleased with how he had launched his 2010 campaign.

“I’m definitely proud the way I’ve started out my season in both events,” he pointed out.

“I went out there to try to get everything right because I wanted to see where I’m at for the season – I’m looking good so far, but I need to work on a few things.”

Today, he will face fellow Jamaican Steve Mullins who went under 20 seconds in last year’s World Championships in Berlin, along with the Netherland Antilles’ Churandy Martina who finished fourth in the 100 metres at the Beijing Olympics two years ago.

The men’s 110 metres hurdles will also create some excitement as World champion Barbadian Ryan Brathwaite clashes with the fastest man in the world this year, American David Oliver.

Brathwaite has clearly not been at his best, finishing down the field on Wednesday in Daegu and will hope to give an improved performance on Sunday. He will have to catch Oliver whose 13.11 seconds has been the fastest time in the event this season.

World record holder and Olympic champion, Cuban Dayron Robles will be missing but the return of hometown boy Liu Xiang is sure to make for an interesting contest.