Powell aims to seize 100m opportunity

JAMAICAN sprinter Asafa Powell will be the main attraction at the first meet of the newly-created Diamond League, which opens today without many of the sport's biggest names.

The Doha meet is the first of 14 around the world in the Diamond League – which is the successor to the Golden League – but it will be missing 100 metre stars Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay. Also absent are Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and American 400m runner Sanya Richards.

Isinbayeva is taking a break this season, while Richards withdrew because of injury.

Powell said: "This is my first 100m of the season and I want to get out and compete. I have been wanting to come to Doha for years now, but I've been injured or it hasn't fitted my plans."

Britain's current Olympic and Commonwealth 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu runs in the 400m, where she will be up against American sprinter Allyson Felix and Shericka Williams of Jamaica.