Ginobili on road to recovery
15/07/2008 9:30 PM
Manu Ginobili claims he is feeling 'much better' as he continues his bid to get fit for the Beijing Olympics.
The 30-year-old San Antonio Spurs guard has been struggling with a left ankle problem since this season's NBA playoffs and missed the Albicelestes' recent warm-up friendlies in Rosario and Buenos Aires.
However, Ginobili - who will be Argentina's flag-bearer at the opening ceremony in the Chinese capital on August 8 - has stepped up training and is optimistic he will be fit.
He said: "My mood has changed a lot. I'm training a lot, playing one-on-one and practising jumping and some exercises on speed."
"Now, I am trying to get my best physical shape as there is still work to do on jumping. (But) I'm much better."
Argentina will try to defend the gold medal they won in Athens in 2004.
Forward Luis Scola commented: "Sometimes having a great team is not enough, but having different options to put on the court is important to determine how successful a team is."
"This squad is different to the team that played in Athens. It has better and worse things. We cannot say it is better. It's different."