Teddy Tamgho to line up against Phillips Idowu at the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix – Athletics news
Teddy Tamgho, the 22-year old Triple jumper from France has ensured his participation in the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix to commence on July 10, where he will be joining the field against Phillips Idowu, the triple jumper from UK.
The Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix is regarded as the ninth leg of the prestigious Samsung Diamond League series.
Tamgho, the young athlete, who amid the formidable stride of 17.98m at the Adidas Grand Prix in June last year, has been declared as the third best triple jumper ever. Kicking-off with his career, the first success came at the World junior Championships,
which paved way towards the final of World Athletics Championships the next year. However, he could only come under the limelight at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships, where he marked an impeccable 17.90m effort.
The emphatic jumper also bagged the 2010 IAAF Diamond League title and a bronze medal at the prestigious 2010 European Athletics Championships.
On the other hand, Phillips Olaosebikan Idowu, the 32-year old triple jumper from Britain with Nigerian ethnic is the reigning world champion and the world indoor champion of 2008. He also bagged the 2010 EAA European Championships, along with the Commonwealth
Games of 2006 and European Indoor championships of 2007. Amid the sustained stellar performances, the athlete had been conferred upon with the membership of Belgrave Harriers, a London based athletics club.
Talking about the opportunity to appear at the Birmingham Grand Prix, Tamgho said, “I’m delighted to be competing at the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix against Phillips. I’ve always had great competition with him and it will be nice to compete against him n
his own country.”
He was of the view that the field for the triple jump competitions was formidable and as the event approaches, it was expected to get strengthened further. To him, having a rival like Phillips only results in improving one’s game and performance. Dwelling
upon his fitness and shape, he said, “I’m feeling in great shape and was really pleased with the way I jumped in Lausanne last week. It was nice to beat Phillips, but I’m sure he’ll be desperate to come back and beat me in his home country.”
Thus, to him, in order to bag a title in Birmingham, it is imperative for him to jump even further, as he is expecting a tough time from Phillips.
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