Team GB athletes face injury uncertainty

Mystery still remains over whether or not a number of Team GB’s athletes will be able to compete in the London 2012 Olympic Games due to injury.

There has been no update on Philips Idowu, the triple-jumper, in a saga over medical records and a hip injury. Idowu did not travel to a training camp in Portugal with other athletes ahead of the Olympics in order to continue treatment on his hip.

Since then the British Olympic Association has asked Idowu for his medical records, but these are yet to be received.

Idowu was described by his agent as “incredibly disappointed and surprised” at the request for his medical records, with the BOA saying it was only doing so was so they could support the athlete.

BOA Chef de Mission Andy Hunt said: “We know the relationship between the governing body and the athlete isn’t as strong as it could be.

“We’re now in a Games environment. Phillips comes under our duty of care, and it’s therefore important that we ensure we give him every possible support, we assess his fitness and ability to compete, and we give him as much support as we can to make sure he can.”

The chances of British marathon runner Paula Radcliffe (pictured above) competing are also unclear due to problems with her foot. UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee was reported as saying her chances of competing were 50/50.

One who will definitely not be competing is Dave Webb, a 30-year-old chartered accountant. The BOA confirmed today that Webb would not be taking part after failing a fitness test.

Britain’s number one female javelin thrower, Goldie Sayers, is expected to compete despite a ligament problem in her elbow. Sayers picked up the injury at the London Grand Prix in Crystal Palace earlier this month.

Also expected to take part is Andrew Pozzi, the British 110m hurdler, despite a hamstring problem.

Tough tennis tasks

The draw for first round matches in the tennis was made today, with a number of UK hopefuls, including Andy Murray (pictured right) facing tough challenges straight away.

Murray’s first round match will be against world number 26 Stanislas Warwinka of Switzerland. Murray has lost four times against Warwinka in 10 matches.

Murray will face Warwinka this weekend at Wimbledon, where the two men had a close battle in 2009, which Murray eventually won in five sets. Warwinka plummeted out of Wimbledon this year, losing in the first set to Austrian Jurgen Melzer.

If Murray is successful, it is likely he will meet one of the favourites for the gold, world numbet two Novak Djokovic, in the semi-finals. Djokovic has been drawn against Italy’s Fabio Fognini and Wimbledon champion Roger Federer meets Colombia’s Alejandro Falla.

In the women’s singles, British number one Heather Watson will face Spain’s Silvia Soler Espinosa, who is ranked at 63 in the world. Watson is ranked 110 in the world.

Team GB’s Anne Keothavong has the most daunting task, taking on eight seeded Caroline Wozniacki.