Riedel headed for Bob Hasan meet
Riedel headed for Bob Hasan meet
JAKARTA (JP): World discus champion Lars Riedel of Germany
confirmed yesterday that he will participate in the second Bob
Hasan Track and Field Invitational Meet here on May 4.
Riedel's confirmation was faxed by his coach Helmut Ebert to
the Indonesian Track and Field Association (PASI) yesterday, the
association's spokeswoman Nia Sarinastiti Regar told The Jakarta
Post yesterday.
With his confirmation, Riedel became the first world champion
to officially accept the invitation to the meet, a prelude to a
possible Asian track and field grand prix. Three other world
champions have been invited, though none have responded yet.
The organizers initially invited 50 world-class athletes, four
of whom are the world top three. No prize money is being offered.
As of yesterday, 29 athletes from 12 countries, including
China, had confirmed their participation.
Riedel produced a golden hat trick in the last three world
championships with record breaking style. He won the 1991
championships in Tokyo with a throw of 66.20 meters and bettered
the record in 1993 in Stuttgart, Germany, with a 67.76m throw. In
last year's competition in Gothenburg, Sweden, Riedel rewrote the
mark at 68.74m.
The association's secretary-general Barmawi Chaidir told the
Post that the big names are expected to give their confirmation
to Maurice R. Nicholas, secretary and treasurer of the Asian
Amateur Athletics Association.
Chaidir added that PASI chairman Mohammad (Bob) Hasan is
seeking help from the International Amateur Athletics Federation
to bring them here.
Hasan asked for the assistance at one of the federation's
counsel meetings in Cape Town, South Africa, which was held in
conjunction with the world cross-country championships concluded
two weeks ago.
"Perhaps we will be able to figure out a complete list of
participants in the invitational meet at the next amateur
athletics meeting in Seoul on May 6, one day before the Asian
8x5,27km marathon relay championship," Chaidir said. (arf)