Kiprop dreams to hold both world and Olympic 1,500m title

World 1,500 metres champion Asbel Kiprop of Kenya says it will be an honour for him to hold both the world and Olympic titles in 2016.

Kiprop, who lost out to compatriot and the world javelin champion Julius Yego, in Kenya's best athlete of the year awards in Nairobi on Friday, on Saturday said his rival did well and it was right to honour him, reports Xinhua.

"But it has aroused the hunger in me to win the award and I will use the Olympics to convince the selectors to pick me for the 2016 awards," he said here.

Kiprop, 27, missed the world record in the four lap race by a fraction of second in Monaco and said he is concerned with winning gold in Rio than breaking the world record.

"It is an Olympic year and I have to be fresh to challenge for the main title. But I will see which races to compete in during the Diamond League and hopeful test my body. Going for the world record is not on my agenda at the moment," he said.

Kiprop was among a battery of athletes that competed in the Kenya Police Cross Country Championships in Nairobi on Saturday. He said he is keen to use the event to test his endurance.

"I have no intentions of competing at the Africa Cross Country Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon in March. My interest is just to help me gauge my preparedness as I wait for the start of the track season," he added.

Kiprop won gold in Beijing Olympics, but had to wait for almost a year for him to be crowned, after winner Rasgid Ramzi of Bahrain was found to have doped.

"I want to win the gold in the real competition, not in some functions," he said.

Kiprop was injured as he competed in the final at the London Olympics in 2012 and was last in the race many expected him to win.

But he hopes to atone for that missed chance in Rio as he enjoys his best form so far in the career.