World Athletics Championships 2013: James Dasaolu Targets 100m Medal

Great Britain sprinter James Dasaolu is hoping to defy injury concerns and claim a medal in the 100m at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow.

Dasaolu hasn't run since last month's UK Trials where he clocked the second fastest 100m by a Briton of 9.91 seconds, withdrawing from the subsequent final before pulling out of the London Anniversary Games with a hip problem.

Jamaican pair Usain Bolt and Nestor Carter and America's Justin Gatlan are the only athletes due to compete in Moscow to have run faster in 2013, with both Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay awaiting punishment having tested positive for banned substance.

The 25 year old is therefore in contention for a medal in the Russian capital.

"Based on merit, if I am able to produce anything better than my best, that should be good enough to get a medal on the day," Dasaolu said.

"Looking at my season as a whole, getting my first senior medal in Gothenburg, breaking 10 seconds and now everyone is talking about me hopefully being able to produce a medal.

"I am really happy with how I have progressed this season," he added.

"It's about taking each round as it comes. First getting out of the heats, first getting out of the semis to make it to the final.

"Once I get to the final I'm going to give my best. For me, it's all about taking each round as it comes as opposed to taking things for granted."

Two-time world 110m hurdles champion Colin Jackson expects Dasaolu to overcome his injury problems in time to claim a place on the podium.

"The thing we all want to know is if he can repeat it now," Jackson told the Evening Standard. "You allow yourself to dream of that and a medal and that dream could come true.

"He's capable of 9.91 seconds and you'd think on form that'd be enough to sneak a bronze medal."

"He has to put his foot down and there can be no holding back. He'll probably have to run close to his personal best just to get through to that final.

"I know people are concerned that he's supposedly fragile with injuries but I think that's unfair. You just have to look at what he did indoors - he only just missed out on the European Indoors title early this season."