2nd Asian All Star Athletics Competition

Thank God for not being a one off Competition. The Madhya Pradesh Sports and Youth Welfare as well as the MP’s Amateur Athletic Association has shown it wasnt a one off affair. The 2nd edition of the Asian All Star Athletics Competition is being held in Bhopal from 18th until the 20th. Nearly 150 Athletes from various Asian countries are participating in the events. China, Japan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bahrain, Qatar, Korea, Kazakhstan, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and Sri Lanka are among the countries entered the competition.The Indian Contingent is the largest with 73 athletes in action.

There will be 10 events for Men and 8 Events for Women. The 10 events in the men’s category include 100 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters and 5,000 meters races, 400 meters hurdles, high jump, triple jump, shot put, discus throw and javelin throw. All told there will be 10 men’s events scheduled. In the women’s section eight events are on tap including 100 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters and 1,500 meters races, 100 meters hurdles, high jump, long jump and discus throw. 

Hold it, there are attractive cash prizes tooo.. More than $60,000 of cash awards await the top three positions in each event. The first prize winner receives $3,000, second prize winner $2,000 and third prize winner $1,000. The Asian All-Star Competition is being organized under the aegis of the Sports and Youth Welfare Directorate of Madhya Pradesh government along with Madhya Pradesh Athletics Association. Asian Games 400 meters champion Olga Tereshkova of Kazakhstan will be pitted against Asian Championship silver medalist Sati Geetha of India and Asian Games medalist Asami Tanno of Japan. Asian champion Song Amin of China is expected to be the star attraction of the meet. She will face tough challenge in the women’s discuss throw from her arch rivals Krishna Poonia and Seema Antil of India.

In the men’s triple jump event, Renjith Maheshwari (best performance 17.19 meter), India’s star triple jumper and current Asian champion, has a lot to prove here in Bhopal. Chinese Li Yanxi is in great form with a jump of 17.30 meter this season. Another 17 meter plus jumper from Kazakhstan, Ektov Yevgeniy, will add more glamor to the contest. Women’s high jump will emerge with sensational results when two high jumpers, Yekaterina Yevseyeva and Natalaya Ivoninskaya from Kazakhstan who are co-owners of the current Asian Record of 1.98 meter, fight it out for the top slot. Meanwhile, the Pakistani squad arrived here yesterday via Mumbai. Athletes include Muhammad Asif Javed, Asad Iqbal, Rana Saghir Ahmed, Ali Muhammad, Muhammad Irfan Hussain and Imran Yasin. Sports Director Sanjay Chaudhry in a bid to ensure enough security arrangements at the stadium has sought a huge deployment of police personnel. Superintendent of Police Jaideep Prasad said 100 cops would remain deployed at the stadium during the events while the place will remain cordoned off 24/7 till the meet is over.

Well, not many great names, but its a worthy beginning.