NAIROBI, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Rio Olympic javelin silver medalist Julius Yego of Kenya will return to Shanghai Diamond League on May 18 to launch his season campaign after skipping last year's event.

Yego, who is the reigning Africa javelin champion, will be eyeing his first throw past the 80m mark since injuring his groin at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.

The former world champion has failed to live up to expectations with loss of form and injuries. His best throw last year was 80.91 in Nairobi against his best hurl of 92.72 in Beijing in 2015.

But as the 30-year-old returns to action in a week's time, he hopes to overcome his challenges and to dominate the throwing event, which of late had been left out to Germans.

"My groin and ankle have been troubling me. But they have since healed. I have really worked hard with the physiotherapist and I feel good. My training is going on well, and I need to regain my form," said Yego on Friday in Nairobi.

In Shanghai, Yego will be up against Germans world champion Johannes Vetter, Olympic winner Thomas Rohler and Commonwealth Games winner Neeraj Chopra and world silver medalist Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic.

Last year at the Commonwealth Games, Yego attributed his loss to mistake of stepping over the white line and he has been keen to turn around his career.

"Mistakes makes those who believe in winning like me stronger," he said. "I said then that I was sorry for everyone who believed and counted on me to deliver. I was disappointed too, not have made to the finals coz of mistakes."