50 athletes enter Bob Hasan track and field championship
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)