Ito's absence chance for Thais

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)