Hooker doubtful for worlds with adductor injury

Hooker doubtful for worlds with adductor injury Berlin - Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker said in a statement published on Thursday that he has injured himself in training which gives him only a 50-50 chance of competing at the world championships.

Hooker said in a statement issued by Athletics Australia that he suffered an adductor problem on Monday.

"I was training and did a take off and felt something in my adductor," Hooker said. "We are going to do whatever we can to treat it aggressively and get me in as good of a position as we can before the qualifying round.

"The injury took place ten days before qualifying so I guess at this point I am a 50/50 at best of competing."

Hooker won Australia's first Olympics athletics gold in a field event last year in Beijing. He cleared 6.06 metres, the second highest jump ever behind Sergey Bubka's 6.15m, in the indoor season and is rated Australia's biggest medal hope in Berlin.

The worlds start on Saturday and run until August 23. Pole vault qualifying is August 20 and the final two days later. (dpa)