Farah and Chambers set for Paris

Mo Farah (centre)
12 April 2012

Defending champions Mo Farah and Dwain Chambers were among a 32-strong Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team named on Tuesday for the European Indoor Championships in Paris next week.

Chambers will be out to retain the 60metres title he won in emphatic fashion in Turin two years ago, while Farah is favourite to win the 3,000m again after setting a new European record over 5,000m in Birmingham on Saturday.

"I have worked hard over the winter and am in better condition than last year. It's always an honour to compete for my country and I will always try to perform to the best of my ability," said Chambers. "There will be many good athletes competing in Paris, not least of all the other British athletes, but if I stay healthy and focused I must stand as good a chance as any other athlete."

Chambers is joined in the 60m by Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and debutant Joel Fearon, after Aikines-Aryeetey shrugged off a hamstring injury suffered at the weekend.

In the women's 60m, teenage star Jodie Williams will make her senior debut after an impressive victory in the trials earlier this month.

World and European heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis is also included in the team for the pentathlon, despite a "niggling" ankle injury which saw her pull out of the second day of the trials and the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham.

The team is smaller than usual due to the late scheduling of the Commonwealth Games last year, but UKA head coach Charles van Commenee said: "This is a strong team which can realistically challenge for medals and top-eight finishes, and I expect just that given the mix of experience and potential within the line-up.

"I am especially happy with the fact that 10 out of the 32 athletes make their first senior appearance.

"Of course I expect the world-class guys to win medals, but I am also interested to see the debutants in action. I encourage them to take this opportunity to immediately make an impact at a high level; they are good enough to do so by making the tough qualification standards."

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