Ito's absence chance for Thais

JAKARTA (JP): The absence of Asian record holder Koji Ito from Japan at the Asian Track and Field Championships has given Thai sprinters great gold medal chances in the meet's most prestigious event, the men's 100 meters dash.

Visanu Sophanich said after training at the Senayan Madya Stadium on Sunday that without Ito, who become the first Asian to run 10.00 seconds in the event at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand sprinters should do well.

"Without Ito, it will be an easy run for us. Maybe we can win the gold medal but we must also watch out for Japanese second stringers and Chinese sprinters," said the 1997 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist, whose best time is 10.39.

Ito is missing the championships because he is still recovering from a hamstring injury.

Japan will field Yasui Akihiro, whose best time is 10.21, and Nakamura Tetsuya, whose time is 10.26, in the event. China will field its sole sprinter Yin Hanzhao, whose best time is 10.50.

Indonesian Erwin Heru Susanto is in with a chance -- his best time of 10.16 seconds was created at the 15th National Games (PON) in Surabaya in June.

While Yanes Raubaba, whose best time is 10.13, is not competing as he is still recovering from typhoid. Teammate John Murray is in the joint fourth position with 1999 SEA Games gold medalist Reanchai Seeharwong of Thailand, with best times of 10.23.

Sophanich hoped he could beat his best time in the championships.

"I only ran 10.40 in the team's test last week. I hope I can run faster here."

While Seeharwong said he only aimed to run 10.30 at the event, 0.10 seconds slower than his best time of 10.20 created in the test.

"I'm not in perfect condition. I am just recovering from a hamstring injury, which I got two weeks before the Malaysia Open in Penang. It feels better now."

"I'll use the event to warm up for the Olympics. I want to reach my best form at the quadrennial event."

Seeharwong named Japanese sprinters and teammate Sophanich and Malaysian Watson Nyambek as hopefuls.

Sophanich also hoped his country's 4x100m team could take advantage of Ito's absence.

Japan remains the favorite in the event with a best time of 38.31 seconds. Thailand trails with 39.11 created in the SEA Games, while Qatar threatens with a best time of 39.71.

The championships will also see Sri Lankan Susanthika Jayasinghe competing in the women's 100m dash. Jayasinghe, whose best time is 11.17 seconds, will get have a tough race against Uzbekistan's Perepelopa Lyubov, whose best time is 11.04.

Indonesian Irene Joseph is only expected to run 11.40 at the event, sharpening her best time of 11.56.

"If I want to qualify for the Olympics, I must run 11.35 but coach Pieter Noya has only asked me to run 11.40."

Indonesia, which is fielding 45 athletes in the event, only aims to qualify women's long-distance runner Supriati Sutono for the Olympics in the 5,000m and 10,000m races.

The championships, participated in by 495 athletes, will start on Monday and will be officially opened by the chairman of the National Sports Council (KONI), Wismoyo Arismunandar. (yan)