NAIROBI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha hopes to regain his fitness ahead of the Diamond League series, which starts in Doha, Qatar in May.

However, he is aware of the emergence of a new champion from his own backyard. 19-year old Wycliffe Kinyamal won gold at the Commonwealth Games on Thursday for Kenya at the Gold Coast in Australia.

"Congratulations Kinyamal, you made Kenya and Kilgoris proud," said Rudisha, who comes from Kilgoris.

Rudisha, who has not competed since his withdrawal from the London World Championships last August, said he hopes to return to the shape he was in at the Rio Olympics.

The 29-year old has transformed the 800m race from tactical game of cat and mouse to prolonged sprint and he is the only person to ever run under one minute 41 seconds for the 800m event when he won gold in the London 2012 Olympics.

He later defended his crown at the Rio Games. His London time of 1:40.91 remains the world and Olympic record.

Rudisha will launch his season in Doha on May 4. He said he is keen to win the series and challenge for a medal at the 2019 World Championships. In his absence, Kenya has seen the rise of Kinyamal, Kipyegon Bett (1:43.76) and Emmanuel Korir.

Korir has a world leading time 1:44.21 this season. There is also Poland's Adam Kszczot who rode an undefeated indoor campaign to his first major gold, winning last month's World Indoor Championships.