World 800m champion Halimah Nakaayi is hoping to grow her profile over middle-distance further by winning silverware at the forthcoming Tokyo Olympic Games.
To achieve that, the 26-year-old began intense training towards Christmas last year with workout sessions in the hilly area of Kapchorwa, eastern Uganda.
And to focus a little more, Nakaayi will not take part in the forthcoming World Indoor Tour Gold circuit when it begins in Karlsruhe, Germany this weekend.
“We decided in the case of Halimah to focus totally on the Olympic Games,” her coach Addy Ruiter said.
“She is already training for a month in Kapchorwa and will stay here till the end of April. Then she will move over to the Netherlands.”
By Nakaayi staying in Kapchorwa, she will skip the six events of the Indoor Tour Gold that go until February 24 in Madrid, Spain.
However, she will be ready for the busy track season that is highlighted by the World Athletics Diamond League whose first leg is in Rabat, Morocco on May 23.
In 2019, Nakaayi spent more than three months in Europe before scooping a bronze at the African Games in Morocco and later the world title over the two-lap race in Doha, Qatar.
2021 WORLD ATHLETICS INDOOR TOUR GOLD
Jan 29: Karlsruhe, Germany
Feb 6: Boston, USA
Feb 9: Lievin, France
Feb 13: New York City, USA
Feb 17: Torun, Poland
Feb 24: Madrid, Spain
NAKAAYI AT A GLANCE
Date of birth: October 14, 1994
Club: Uganda Wildlife Authority
Major event: 800m
Personal Best: 1:58.04 (National Record)
Major Honours: 2011 Commonwealth Youth Gold (400m), 2019 African Games Bronze (800m), 2019 World Championship Gold (800m)
Coaches: Raphael Kasaija, Addy Ruiter
Manager: Jurrie van der Velden
ATHLETES QUALIFIED FOR TOKYO - SO FAR
ATHLETICS
Women: Halima Nakaayi (800m), Winnie Nanyondo (800m & 1500m), Peruth Chemutai (3000m steeplechase), Stella Chesang & Sarah Chelangat (5000m), Juliet Chekwel (Marathon)
Men: Ronald Musagala (1500m), Albert Chemutai (3000m Steeplechase), Stephen Kissa (5000m), Joshua Cheptegei & Abdallah Mande (10000m), *Fred Musobo, *Stephen Kiprotich, *Solomon Mutai, *Filex Chemonges, *Geoffrey Kusuro, *Jackson Kiprop & *Robert Chemonges (all Marathon)
*Only 3 can be allowed to compete
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This writer is a global broadcaster and as well scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and sports presenter with Radio One FM 90 in Kampala. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune