Mbwakongo must use Commonwealths as London 2012 platform, says Langley

Posted: Friday 2nd July 2010 | 12:52

TEENAGE ABA champion Obed Mbwakongo can lift a London 2012 Olympic gold medal, according to two-time English Commonwealth Games medallist Darran Langley.

PLATFORM: Obed Mbwakongo (l) must use Delhi 2010 as a stepping stone towards London 2012, says Darran Langley (Getty Images)

With October's Commonwealth Games now firmly on the horizon, flyweight, Langley has called on Mbwakongo to use his Indian adventure as a dress rehearsal for London 2012.

The importance of medalling in Delhi has been rubbished by many within the sport but Langley uses the example of James DeGale, who won Commonwealth bronze in Melbourne before two years later landing gold at the Beijing Olympics, as a competitive blueprint to follow.

Langley, who won silver at both the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and then repeated the feat four years later in Melbourne, insists Mbwakongo, who won gold in Macedonia at the Golden Gong in 2007 and silver at the 2008 Tammer tournament, as one to watch in 2010.

"I still keep in touch with some of the guys and have a look out for what they are doing and they are really good at the minute. I am confident we will have a great Commonwealths," said Langley.

"They have got a tough act to follow because we won medals in eight of the 11 events at the Commonwealth Games last time, so it is going to be difficult to do as well as that.

"But I am really confident that Obed can go there and be on the podium - it is a great opportunity for him to go and do that with London 2012 only a couple of years away.

"Sometimes people say that the Commonwealth Games is not as important or not as good a competition as the Olympics but I think you only have to look at the example of James DeGale to see how difficult they are and what a good test they are.

"James got bronze in the Commonwealths in 2006 and then two years later got gold at the Olympics so this year is a great opportunity for the likes of Obed and a great stepping stone for him for London."