NAIROBI, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo marathon defending champion Dickson Chumba said here Monday that he is focused on retaining his title despite the withdrawal of Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele and 2018 Abu Dhabi Marathon champion Marius Kipserem.
Prior to his departure to Japan for Sunday's race, Chumba remained optimistic he has done enough to retain his title.
"My training has been hard and progressive and am now ready for the challenge of Tokyo marathon course," said Chumba. "It will not be easy even with the withdrawal of Bekele and Kipserem."
Chumba said he will not allow the sideshows to distract him from the target, even as he pushes for the win to boost his chances of making the Kenya team to the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020.
Both Bekele and Kipserem have pulled out citing injuries. Bekele has a stress fracture that is going to take a little more time to heal since picking it up in October last year in Amsterdam.
However, Kipserem injured his knee in training last week in Eldoret.
In their absence, Chumba's main challenge will come from Bahrain's El Hassan El Abassi and Ethiopian duo Birhanu Legese and Seifu Tura.
One athlete aiming to rub shoulders with that group will be Japan's own Suguru Osako. The Japanese set a new national record of 2:05:50 at the Chicago marathon in October.
Race director Tad Hayano hopes more Japanese athletes will use the race to hit the qualifying mark for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
"I am determined to do everything possible for the race so that at least five Japanese will run a 2:06 marathon before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics," said Hayano.
