Caster Semenya to run in Commonwealth Games

Caster Semenya will return to major competition at the Commonwealth Games in India after she was included in South Africa's team yesterday.

• Caster Semenya has won all three of her comeback races since she was cleared to run by world athletics body the IAAF Picture: Getty Images

The country's Olympic committee, SASCOC, named the 800-metre world champion as one of 32 athletes, swimmers, cyclists and rugby sevens players added to South Africa's initial 115-strong team for the 3-14 October games in Delhi, which was announced last month.

"I'm very happy to see the return of Caster Semenya," said SASCOC president Gideon Sam. "We have observed her progress closely since the IAAF cleared her to run and it's good to hear her say that she's focusing all her efforts on the Commonwealths."

Semenya has won all three of her comeback races since she was cleared to run by world athletics body the IAAF following an 11-month break because of a gender dispute.

She beat a strong field at the ISTAF meet on her return to Berlin on Sunday to continue her winning return to the sport. It was the first time the teenage athlete had run under two minutes since her return.

"The fact that she's unbeaten in her three races thus far and has improved her time on each occasion is good news for our medal effort in New Delhi," Sam said.

Semenya will run later this week at the Diamond League final in Brussels and at two meets in Italy as she continues her preparations for the Commonwealth Games.

Men's 800-metre world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, Olympic long jump silver medallist Khotso Mokoena and Commonwealth champions Elizna Naude (discus), Sunette Viljoen (javelin) and LJ van Zyl (400m hurdles) were also named in South Africa's team.

Meanwhile, a season-ending injury hasn't stopped Usain Bolt from celebrating.

The world's fastest man turned 24 over the weekend and then signed a three-year contract extension with German apparel company Puma on Tuesday that is said to be the biggest for a track and field athlete.

And although the world-record holder at 100 and 200 metres may be able to buy just about anything he wants because of his new sponsorship deal, he couldn't even wrangle himself a proper birthday party back home in Jamaica.

"I didn't know what to do," said Bolt, who was in his country on his birthday for the first time in seven years. "So I just chilled. We went out and had a couple of drinks."

Although contract terms of the deal were not released, Puma chairman and CEO Jochen Zeitz said Bolt would be the "best-paid athlete in track and field history". The athlete said: "It's good, man. I'm happy. I'm very happy with the figure."

Bolt set world records in the 100 and 200 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and helped Jamaica capture another gold and set another world record in the 4x100 relay. A year later, he again set world records in the 100 and 200 at the world championships in Berlin.