Asha Philip named Great Britain captain for World Indoor Championships
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 14/03/16 10:42am
Great Britain have named sprinter Asha Philip as team captain for this week's World Indoor Championships in Portland.
The 25-year-old, who will bid for a medal over 60m alongside team-mate Dina Asher-Smith at the Oregon Convention Centre on Saturday, will lead a youthful-looking 23-strong squad at the event.
Philip, a former double-mini trampoline world junior champion, is ranked joint sixth in the world with a best time this year of 7.10 seconds.
"I love representing my country and it's something that never gets old, so to have been selected to be captain of the British Athletics team at the World Indoor Championships is unreal and a massive honour," she said.
"This seems like this might be my year to finally shine. Everything has been going really well so far in 2016, so I hope to come here (to Portland) and execute my race and perform to the levels I know I can.
"It would be the perfect way to head into the outdoor season in an Olympic year."
Philip trains in Loughborough under Steve Fudge alongside some of Britain's top male sprinters, including Adam Gemili, James Dasaolu and Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock.
British Athletics performance director Neil Black said: "Anyone who has followed athletics and Asha will know the passion and enthusiasm she displays when it comes to representing her country.
This seems like this might be my year to finally shine. Everything has been going really well so far in 2016
Asha Philip
"But what many may not know is that for the last year or so Asha has been training in an all-male sprinting group in Loughborough and has proven herself to be one of the leaders in that group, displaying a range of leadership skills we hadn't seen before.
"Asha has a big personality, but it is the steel, focus and drive behind the outward confidence which I want her to bring to the captaincy and that I am sure will inspire the rest of the team. I am delighted she has accepted this role."
