Al-Asmari sets new record on first day of Asian meet
Al-Asmari sets new record on first day of Asian meet
JAKARTA (JP): Clocking eight minutes, 24.08 seconds, Saad
Shadad Al-Asmari Mozazae of Saudi Arabia yesterday broke his own
3,000-meter steeplechase record on the first day of the 11th
Asian Athletic Championships at the Senayan Madya stadium.
His previous championship record was 8:32.08, which he set two
years ago.
"It's an easy race," the 27-year-old navy sergeant commented.
He added he did not have to force himself since his competitors
here were relatively slow.
Al-Asmari attributed his easy win to his daily stints in his
hometown in Abha, the southern mountainous region of Saudi Arabia
with an altitude of around 2,000 m, coupled with the tough
military life.
"I have too many races this year," said the bachelor, who
turned from volleyball to athletics in 1989. He added that he
wanted to take a month's rest after this meet.
Up to this championship, Al-Asmari has 21 races behind him
with awesome performances this year. In the world championships
in Gothenburg, Sweden, which concluded on Aug. 8, he clocked
8:12, shattering the Asian mark of 8:15.95 he set in Monaco last
year, and won the bronze medal.
In the Golden Four athletic meet in Zurich, Switzerland, he
recorded his best time of 8.09.67 on Aug. 16 -- another new Asian
record. This means he rewrote his own Asian record within a time
span of about one week.
Most recently, in the Mediterranean Olympics in Rome one week
ago, he finished 8.29 in the semifinal and clocked 8.14 in the
final, not only to win the gold medal but also to beat
Christopher Koskie of Kenya, silver medalist at the Gothenburg
meet.
For Saad Bilal of Qatar, who threw 18.87m to win the first
gold medal on the first day of the 11th Asian Athletic Champion
ship, the victory came as expected.
But not the throw.
"I expect gold medal in this championship rather than in the
recent world championship (in Gothenburg, Sweden, which was
concluded last month)," the 183cm shot putter said in joy before
knowing of his less impressive victory through an Arabian inter
preter.
"You cannot compare the world championship to the Asian
championship. For me, the Asian championship is the first step to
climb to the world championship," said the Qatari soldier who
failed to shine in Gothenburg.
The father of one-year son, who trains under Uzbekistan coach
Klamenko, has his eyes set on the Olympic Games in Atlanta next
year.
Was his failure to throw more than 19m might yesterday caused
by Jakarta's high humidity? The 109kg athlete refused to comment.
"Please leave me alone, I don't want to say anything," the 23-
year-old Qatari unexpectedly said in English.
(arf)