50 athletes enter Bob Hasan track and field championship
JAKARTA (JP): More than 50 athletes from 12 countries have confirmed their entry at a two-hour track and field meet planned for the end of this month, with the aim of enhancing Asian standards to that of international levels.
Promoted by timber tycoon Mohammad Bob Hasan and involving more than 40 sponsoring companies, the brief contest at the Madya Senayan stadium on July 30 is hoped to become an event of competitions and entertainment.
"Indonesian people have seen world soccer stars playing here. Now it's our turn to make the public enjoy track and field competitions," Bob said yesterday, referring to two friendly matches pitting the Italian giants Sampdoria and AC Milan against local footballers recently.
Bob, who is also chairman of the Indonesian Track and Field Association (PASI) and chairman of the Asian Amateur Athletics Association (AAAA), said he wanted to see more meets on the continent, such as those held in Europe.
"Starting from next year, there will be more track and field competitions in Asia," he said. He believes many companies will be interested in sponsoring the events due to the impressive economic performances of the continent.
American world championship 100-meter silver medalist Andre Cason will highlight the competitions titled Bob Hasan Invitational Meet, which will have 11 men's and women's events.
Cason, who clocked his best record of 9.92secs to finish second at the world championships in Stuttgart last year, will find Asian Games winner and the continent's record holder Talal Mansoor of Qatar his major challenger.
China
The organizers originally also invited Asian champions, including those from China, but they declined the invitations for undisclosed reasons.
"I don't think the quality of the competitions lessens due to the absentees. We still have Asia's second best and world-class athletes," said Bob, who addressed yesterday's press conference dressed in a T-shirt, shorts and sandals.
The organizers promised no huge amount of cash prizes for athletes who manage to shatter world records. "Record breakers will receive just token bonuses in the form of training funds," Bob said.
Asked whether the one day track and field event was titled after his name, the renowned tycoon said he staked his name as a guarantee to attract the athletes to come. "They all know who I am," Bob who is also the Vice President of Olympic Committee of Asia said.
All 44 foreign participants are scheduled to arrive here on Tuesday.
The entrepreneur brought 13 star-studded athletes here in 1991, including world pole vault record holder Sergei Bubka of Ukraine, English middle-distance legend Steve Cram and world long jump record holder Mike Powell of the United States. No new world records, however, were established. (amd)