Athletics: Meadows wary

Meadows: In top form

Jenny Meadows admits she is facing tough opposition in her bid to win the 800m gold at the World Indoor Championships starting on Friday.

Meadows picked up the bronze medal at the World Championships in Berlin last summer and has continued her upward curve this winter.

The Briton broke Kelly Homes' indoor record last month in Birmingham and has been handed the team captaincy for the event in Doha by UK Athletics chief Charles van Commenee.

However, despite feeling confident about her chances, Meadows is aware that the Russian pair of Yevgeniya Zinurova and Mariya Savinova pose a serious threat.

"I've done a lot of homework, I know stats are only an indication of what goes on but it's such a competitive event this year I've written eight names down on a piece of paper," she said.

"There are eight world-class girls there. Zinurova heads the world rankings and was only second at their trials because Savinova won what I believe was a tactical race.

"Savinova's also recorded 52.05secs for 400m this year which is absolutely phenomenal.

"You just can't discredit anybody really, you just don't know what shape anyone's going to be in but I presume after the heats and in the semi-finals I'll have a better indication and I'll have to determine my strategy and plans."