'Rafael Nadal Will be Ready For Rio Olympics'
Rafael Nadal is currently recovering from a left wrist injury which forced him to withdraw from the French Open as well as Wimbledon.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: July 15, 2016 10:17 am IST
Highlights
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Spain's Olympic chief says Rafael Nadal will be back at the Rio Olympics
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Nadal won the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games
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He failed to defend his title in 2012 London because of a knee injury
Rafael Nadal will be fit and ready for Rio, the head of the Spanish Olympic Committee insisted Thursday, even though the 14-time Grand Slam title winner is still sweating on his place in the squad.
Nadal was the Olympic champion at Beijing in 2008 but missed the London Games with a knee injury four years later.
The 30-year-old is due to be Spain's flag-bearer at the opening ceremony in Rio on August 5 but still needs the go-ahead from the International Tennis Federation after he failed to meet qualifying criteria.
"Nadal's commitment is total and he will go to Rio to participate," said Alejandro Blanco, the president of the country's Olympic committee (COE).
"I have no doubts over his participation. He is training regularly in order to achieve what he wants -- a medal."
Nadal is due to play singles and also the mixed doubles with French Open champion Garbine Muguruza at Rio.
However, he is still recovering from a left wrist injury which caused an early withdrawal from the French Open as well as forcing him to sit out Wimbledon.