Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Asafa Powell, the former world 100m record holder, has hailed Usain Bolt's record-breaking achievement, calling it deserving.

Bolt ran 9.72 at Saturday night's Reebok Grand Prix in New York city, which erased Powell's previous mark of 9.74 seconds.

"I am very happy for Bolt. He's a big guy and he trains very hard, he deserves the record," said Powell in a statement through his manager Paul Doyle.

While Powell congratulated Bolt, he made it quite clear that he will be attempting to reclaim the world record.

"I know that I can run in the 9.6s," the statement quoted Powell as saying.

Possible clashes?

Powell also hinted of possible clashes with Bolt, the first of which will be at National Championships, which will be run at the National Stadium from June 27-29.

"It will be a very exciting summer," he said.

Bolt, in the meantime, downplayed impending match-ups with his fellow Jamaican superstar.

"I don't think it will be a showdown," he said of their possible face-off at trials. "I just think Asafa and I will just be going out there to make the team to Beijing. I don't think we're going out there to prove anything, that's how I will be looking at it I don't know how Asafa will be looking at it," said Bolt.

Pertaining to their meetings on the grand prix circuit, Bolt said: "Right now, I am not really putting that on my mind, I am just trying to work on my 200m because I did a lot of 100m training, so it's really time to focus on my 200m," he added.