Dhaka, Sept. 2 -- Olympic pole vault champion Nina Kennedy will defend her world title in Tokyo without a single lead-up competition, coming in cold after a long injury layoff that has her torn between protecting her body and unleashing her competitive spirit.

Kennedy has not competed since becoming the first Australian woman to win Olympic gold in a field event in Paris last year, having undergone hamstring surgery after three strains in six weeks.The rehabilitation wiped out her entire build-up to the September 13 to 21 world championships, forcing her to forgo all Diamond League meets and enter Tokyo on a wildcard.

"Only training for six weeks, we've pushed my body to the absolute limits just to get here," Kennedy told reporters.

"I...