• London Olympics 2012

Chernova sets high Olympic target

ESPN staff
March 5, 2012
Tatyana Chernova believes a points tally of 7,000 will be necessary at this summer's Olympics to take heptathlon gold © PA Photos
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Jessica Ennis' main rival for Olympic gold in the heptathlon this summer, Tatyana Chernova, believes that whoever triumphs out of the pair will need an incredible points tally of close to 7,000 to secure the prize.

Chernova, who beat Ennis to World Championship gold in Daegu last August, faces her British rival this Friday in the pentathlon at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul as the pair go head-to-head in a dress rehearsal for their impending Olympic showdown.

Ahead of this summer's Games, Ennis has said she will need to surpass Denise Lewis' British record of 6,831 in the heptathlon to win in London, but Chernova believes the winning score will need to be higher.

"It will be around 7,000 points," said the Russian in The Times. "Looking at Jessica's results from the past few years, looking at how my results are improving, it would be nice to get over 7,000."

Chernova continued: "There will be 80,000 people for Jessica, but they will be there to watch other events, too. I am going there to compete, not to watch who is rooting for whom. It's more important not to have a full stadium on your side, but a couple of people who really believe in you. I will have that.

"Jessica is extremely talented and has had a lot of success in the past few years, she's been on the top of every world list and has won every title, except the Olympics."

Chernova believes that last summer's defeat will spur Ennis on further, and added: "I think the fact she was beaten will help her to be more focused. She will be with her crowd, but also with a lot of expectations. I think the competition is fierce and it will help us both get better results."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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