RI to host Asian athletics grand prix

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia will host the first series of the 2005 Asian Athletics Grand Prix next month in Sidoarjo, East Java, featuring eight sporting events each in the men's and women's divisions.

"It is an honor for us to host the first series of the Asian Grand Prix after we held the Asian Championship in 2000," Indonesian Athletics Association (PASI) chairman Bob Hasan said during a press conference on Tuesday.

The one-day grand prix, which is scheduled to run on June 18, will hold races in the 100, 400, and 800-meter sprints, the 110- meter hurdle, long jump, high jump, shot put and javelin throw for men; and the 100, 400, 1,500-meter sprints, 400-meter hurdle, long jump, high jump, shot put, and discus throw for women.

The Indonesian team in the Asian Athletics Association (AAA)- sanctioned competition numbers 67 male and 55 female athletes with the host being exclusively allowed to field two competitors in each event.

Among the Indonesian athletes are Eddy Zakaria who will compete in the men's 110-meter hurdle; Yan Karubaba in the men's 400 meter run, while promising women include 100-meter contenders, Deisy Sumigar and Supiati.

With his best mark of 14.11 seconds, Eddy is the only Indonesian eligible for entry into the second series in Singapore and the third in Thailand.

Participants from overseas in the first series include Perepelova Lyubov of Uzbekistan for women's 100 meter sprint, Yoshid Makiko of Japan in the women's 400 meter hurdle, Zhang Qi of China in the men's shot put, Suwonprateep Sittichai of Thailand in the men's 100 meter sprint.

Winners of each event in the Asian Grand Prix will take home prize money of US$2,500, while runners-up and third-placed finishers will pocket $700 and $400 respectively.

"This event is a good opportunity for our athletes to assess their skills ahead of the 2005 Southeast Asia (SEA) Games," Bob said.

The second series in Singapore will start on June 21, while the third and final series in Thailand will begin on June 24.