THE sense that our nation is again waiting with bated breath for the performance of our athletes at the 13th International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Championships which begin tomorrow in Daegu, South Korea, is mere confirmation of the importance of sport to our national self-esteem and character.

That anticipation was further intensified by the prediction by Track and Field News — which many regard as the bible of the sport — that Jamaica would take home 15 medals, including six gold. This would surpass our last performance when we took home 13 medals from Berlin, Germany in 2009.

The prediction by Track and Field News came despite fears that some of our top athletes from Berlin were injured and performing below their best standard, leading up to the Championships.

Of course, with Mr Asafa Powell now ruled out of the 100 metres because of a groin injury, we are sure that the prediction would have been revised downward, unless Mr Michael Frater who replaces him, can deliver against expectations.

We, like most Jamaicans, share the extreme disappointment that we know Mr Powell is feeling. He must be cursing his luck. We are too. Based on his performances this season, Mr Powell appeared to have had his best chance at winning gold in the 100 metres at Daegu. He had the best time of all the athletes going into the Championships and appeared to be on course to contest the gold with the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt.

Mr Powell had been running fast all through the season until he pulled out of the Crystal Palace Diamond League meet as a precautionary measure to protect his groin. Clearly, the injury did not heal sufficiently, and it is now felt that the succession of three races over the weekend would have been too much at this stage for him. What a great pity!

With all his speed prowess, Mr Powell’s biggest individual medals to date are the bronze he won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the Berlin Championships the following year. His Commonwealth gold obviously does not compensate.

Naturally, we are keeping our fingers tightly crossed that Mr Powell will be fit by the time of the 4×100 relay during the final weekend of the Championships.

Yet, we hasten to acknowledge that it must be a matter of national destiny that Jamaica is blessed with so many fast men at this time. So that even without Mr Powell, Mr Steve Mullings who tested positive for a banned substance, and American rival Mr Tyson Gay who was injured in June, we can still expect to take home gold in the marquee event. Any of our entrants — Bolt, Nesta Carter and Frater — can win.

Our flag is flying high and proud at Daegu even before the first medal is won, and it is pleasing to see how well Mr Bolt, in particular, has been representing Jamaica as he emits our customary warmth and charm in Korea.

We wish our team of men and women, including the administrators, all health and success.