Maria Cioncan of Romania wins her heat in the women's 800m (© Getty Images)
Athens Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Maria Cioncan has confirmed that she aims to be fit enough to compete in the 11th IAAF World Indoor Championships, Moscow, Russia (10-12 March), having been sidelined by injury since July 2005.
Cioncan who last raced when taking victory in the 800m (2:00.08) and a second place at the 1500m (4:07.39) at the European Cup in Florence on the weekend of 18/19 June 2005, has set out plans to run twice indoors in the coming weeks, firstly she intends to compete in Athens on 25 February at the IAAF permit meeting, and then to run for her country at the European Indoor Cup in Liévin, France on 5 March.
The 28-year-old’s return to training after an undisclosed muscle injury has so far been promising, but the athlete who as well as taking the 1500m bronze in Athens finished seventh in the Olympic 800m, remains cautious about her hopes for Moscow.
“I've been injured, and have not trained for three months, so I can't say winning a medal is an objective,” admits Cioncan, who was ninth in the 2003 World 1500m Championship final. “I just want to get fit and compete well.''
“I will see how I compete in Athens and at the European Cup. It's important to test myself, especially as my training started late due to the injury.”
PA International for the IAAF
