Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake set for real showdown in the 200m event

KARACHI: Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake are set for real showdown in the 200 meters event today.

Blake, 22, won the world championship in the 100 meters last year after Bolt was disqualified for a false start. He then beat Bolt in both the 100 and the 200 meters at Jamaica’s Olympic trials.

Bolt’s defeats in trials stirred him and consequently made Blake pay the price with his record win finishing with a record time of 9.63 seconds, Bolt’s second-fastest ever run.

After the 100 meters event, Bolt said, “Yohan gave me a wake-up call. He knocked on my door and said, ‘Usain, this is an Olympic year. Wake up.’ So I’m grateful for that.”

Bolt is now aiming for his favorite, the 200. After his win in the 100 meters, he caught up to Blake over the Olympic Stadium’s stands and promised he would not let him proceed to Thursday’s final.

“I’ve told Yohan Blake that the 200 meters will be different because that is my pet event. I’m not going to let him beat me again,” Bolt said.

Losing his concentration momentarily over Bolt’s comment Blake smiled knowingly. He is well aware of Bolt’s potential.

“The track is fast. Usain is really fast, but I'm in great shape. Anything is possible,” Blake said talking to the media.

The semi-finals in the 200 meters will be run on Wednesday, with the final following on Thursday.