Lack of top athletes cuts competition at meet
Lack of top athletes cuts competition at meet
JAKARTA (JP): The absence of Asia's top athletes from the 13th
Asian Track and Field Championships will make the event less
competitive, said the secretary-general of the Indonesian Amateur
Athletic Association (PASI), Tigor M. Tanjung.
However, Tigor expressed optimism Indonesian athletes could
benefit from these absences and qualify for the Olympic Games in
Sydney in September.
"We hope more Indonesian athletes will be able to qualify for
the Olympics because they won't face any tough challenges in the
championships," he said on Tuesday.
About 175 athletes from 18 Asian countries are expected to
take part in the event.
"I think those athletes who have qualified for the Olympics
will not show up for this event. They might want to save their
energy for the Games," Tigor said.
Among the top athletes expected to miss the championships is
Koji Ito of Japan, who won gold in the 100 meters at the 1998
Asian Games and holds the Games record of 10.00 seconds in the
event.
Japan will send its second-string sprinters, including Tetsuya
Nakamura, whose personal best in the 100m is 10.26 seconds, and
Yasui Akihiro, whose best time at that distance is 10.21 seconds.
"Although there won't be any top athletes in this event, I
don't think that the Asian championships will be any less
interesting," Tigor said.
Among the Indonesian contingent taking part in the
championships, women's long distance runner Supriati, women's
long jumper Nyoman Rae Trisandiana and men's pole vaulter Nunung
Jayadi are hoping to qualify for the Olympics.
The championships will be the last opportunity these athletes
have to qualify for the Olympics before the International Amateur
Athletics Federation-set deadline of Sept. 11.
Indonesia has already seen a number of its track and field
athletes qualify for the Olympics. They are Irene Truitje Joseph
in the women's 100m (time limit B); Yanes Raubaba, Erwin Heru
Santoso and John Murray in the men's 100m (time limit A); and the
men's 4x100m relay team of Yanes, Erwin, John and Subakir, with
Sukari as the substitute (time limit B).
PASI has received the go-ahead from the Jakarta Police to
stage the Asian championships from Aug. 28 to Aug. 31.
The event and the Asian Amateur Athletics Association (AAAA)
congress were originally planned for Aug. 2 to Aug. 6 but were
delayed due to security concerns related to the General Session
of the People's Consultative Assembly, being held from Aug. 7 to
Aug. 18.
Tigor also said he had asked State Minister of Youth Affairs
and Sports Mahadi Sinambela to officially open the championships.
(ivy)