Powell confident he can challenge compatriot Bolt

BEIJING - Jamaican sprint star Asafa Powell remains confident he is no less talented and competitive than his world-beating compatriot Usain Bolt, despite a season prematurely ended by injuries.

"I am not very far from him (Bolt), I'm just not healthy," the 27-year-old said. "He is very fast, but he's not a super man. He's a normal person."

Powell finished second to the 100m and 200m world record holder at a meeting in July in Paris, after which he had to end his season early due to hamstring and back problems.