Indian Athletics – 20th Asian Athletics Championships – Day-2 PREVIEW: Sprinters to thunder on the tracks – / By Ram. Murali Krishnan /

Pune, India – 3 July 2013 – There are eight finals on the cards for the second day of the 20th Asian Athletics Championships here on Thursday (4 July).  Of the eight, five will be men’s and the remaining three women’s finals.  The marquee event of the day will be 100m finals for men and women.  Indian medal hopes Vikas Gowda (discus throw) and Prem Kumar (long jump) will be the main attraction of the day.  The day will also decide the medallists in decathlon event.

Here is an event by event preview for the eight finals—

Women’s High Jump – Radzivil vs. Aitova

The competition will be between Svetlana Radzivil of Uzbekistan and Marina Aitova of Kazakhstan, the silver and bronze medallists in the last edition at Kobe in 2011.  Although Radzivil had a better season last time, Aitova recently cleared 1.95m at the Kosanov memorial at home two weeks back.  If Radzivil wins here it will be first gold medal for her country in this event in Asian championships.

 Men’s Discus Throw – Gowda vs. Al-Dawoodi

With four-time Asian champion Ehsan Hadadi opted out, the field is open to Indian thrower Vikas Gowda.  Only three Indians won the Asian title to date—Praveen Kumar (1975), Ajit Bhaduria (1993) and Anil Kumar (2000).  Gowda with his 65.82m throw recorded in United States this April is the top seed on the line-up.  However he is having threat in the name of Sultan Mubarak Al-Dawoodi.  The Saudi Arabian is determined to get the first title for his country in this event as he already showed a good form with a mark of 64.25m which he achieved just 10 days ago at Krakow.  Iranians Mohammad and Mahmoud Samimi will also trying to repeat the winning act of their country-mate Hadadi which enable the winner to get an entry in to the World championships.

Women’s 400m – Poovamma vs. Rakhmanova

With an unbeaten season India’s Machettira Raju Poovamma, with a personal best 52.75 secs clocked in Federation Cup at Patiala, lead the list.  The competition for top spot comes from Kazakh quarter-miler Yuliya Rakhmanova, who is credited with a time of 52.86s clocked in Bishkek last month.  In an event where India’s P.T. Usha dominates the scene with four consecutive wins from 1983 to 1989 whether Poovamma can made a mark will be known only tomorrow. Indians Anu Mariam Jose and Poovamma had won their respective semi-final heats on Wednesday evening.

Men’s 400m – Al Masrahi vs. others

Saudi Arabian Youssef Ahmed Al-Masrahi is a class of his own as he jogged through the heats and semi-final rounds in ease.  He is the favourite to with the gold although Yuzo Kanemaru of Japan can pull a surpise.  

Men’s 100m – Bingtian vs. Francis

Defending champion Su Bingtian (China) returned to defend his title at Pune.  Having finished third in Beijing World challenge with a time of 10.06 secs, Bingtian is just ahead of Asian record-holder and 2007 champion Samuel Francis (Qatar) who in Doha Diamond League returned with a time of 10.08 secs.  Francis showed a great form in the first round held on Wednesday and it is a ‘wait and see’ game again to find the champion here tomorrow.

Women’s 100m – Khubbieva vs. Fukushima

Defending champion Guzel Khubbieva (Uzbekistan) and 2009 champion Chisato Fukushima (Japan) is to fight it out for the top honours. Although Fukushima registered a better timing (10.38s) than Khubbieva (10.70) this season, the 37-year-old veteran is having experience on her side to emerge supreme on the appointed day.  Wei Yongli, the Asian leader in this event from China, with her 11.32 clocking at home about a fortnight ago will be another contender for the ‘numero uno’ spot.

Men’s 10000m – Bekele vs. Shume

It is between Bahraini runners Alemu Bekele Gebre and Bilisuma Shume Ghelasa.  The 2011 runner-up Shume is all set to go one up this time.  It is all possible to see an Indian on the podium.

This apart the men’s decathlon event will have its medal winners on Thursday.

 Log on to www.indianathletics.in/onlineresults.php to view competition schedule, start-lists and the results.

 

 / Ram. Murali Krishnan /-