European Athletics (EAA) – News – Russia’s Rybakov will not defend his high jump title in Daegu

Yaroslav Rybakov will not defend his high jump title at the forthcoming 2011 World Championships because of a foot injury, confirmed Russia's head coach Valentin Maslakov.

“He was hoping to compete despite of the injury but then realised it would not be possible for him to jump at his best level,” said Maslakov.

Rybakov made the decision on Tuesday night after he could only clear 2.20m at a meeting in Estonia, where he had to settle for second place behind his teenage compatriot and 2011 European Athletics Junior Championships gold medallist Nikita Anishchenkov.

He cleared a season’s best of 2.30m at last month’s Russian Championships in Cheboksary but that was only good enough for a fifth place in a terrific competition.

Nevertheless, despite the absence of Rybakov, Russia will be well represented in Daegu.

They are sending the trio of 2010 European Athletics Championships gold and silver medallists Alexander Shustov and Ivan Ukhov, with the latter also being the current world and European indoor champion, as well as their 2011 national champion Alexei Dmitrik, who has cleared 2.36m this year.

The 2008 Olympic Games champion Andrei Silnov did not make the cut, even though he also jumped 2.36m at the Samsung Diamond League meeting in London last weekend.

Rybakov, 30, memorably claimed his first world outdoor title in Berlin two years ago, triumphing in the rain after having to settle for the silver medal on three previous occasions.

He was also the 2002 European Athletics Championships gold medallist and finished third at the 2008 Olympic Games.

European Athletics (EAA)