Keen contests on cards

Indisposed Tintu Luka unlikely to compete in 800 metres

Conceived as a platform to showcase top athletics talent in Asia, the series might not have lived up to its promise but it does offer a springboard for the lesser-known to soar high these days.

It will be no different on Saturday, when 16 events will be gone through in men’s and women’s sections combined.

To be preceded by the Indian Grand Prix -- which has been cruelly downsized to just six events from the original 13 -- the Asian Grand Prix promises keen contests in a few events at least, with Indians hoping to raise their Pune performances by a notch or two.
At the rain-drenched Shiv Chattrapati Sports Complex in Pune, India picked up three gold, five silver and one bronze medal even as the young Chinese team flexed its muscles, winning four top places.

The focus will obviously fall on the home team’s gold winners -- SK Mortaja in 400M, Renjith Maheswary in triple jump and Krishna Poonia in discus -- but no less significant will be the contests elsewhere, especially in the men’s shot put with Om Prakash Singh in the fray, while an illness to Tintu Luka might rob the women’s 800M of some charm.
The men’s 400M was virtually an Indian affair in Pune, with Mortaja edging out J Premanand for the gold.

P Kunhumuhammed, an impressive winner at the Open Nationals, was absent in Pune and if he turns up here, a hot three-way tussle could unfold on the track.

Krishna, back after a training stint in the US, could only take two throws in Pune because of the rainy weather. She edged out compatriot Seema Antil for the gold after both produced identical throws of 59.15 metres. Krishna felt she could go farther here, if the weather stayed fine.

“In four competitions in the US, I crossed 60 metres thrice, with a personal best of 63.69,” said Krishna. “My technique and strength have improved and I hope to touch 65 metres this season,” added the thrower, who fine-tuned her skills under 1976 Olympic champion Mac Wilkins.

Stiff test

While Krishna and Mortaja will be up against mainly Indian rivals, Renjith will face a stiff test from Kazakhstan’s Asian champion Roman Valiyev and China’s Wu Bo. Renjith, with a 16.84, topped in Pune and will be keen to maintain that form.

Shot-putter Om Prakash, also back from the US, was pipped to the silver position by China’s Zhang Jun (19.71) in the final round at Pune. But with a 19.58M putt, the Asian champion didn’t do too badly and has a chance to exact revenge here.

Tintu, meanwhile, was hospitalised after going down with a bout of vomitting on the eve of the meet.

Her coach PT Usha, who too was suffering from an upset stomach, said Tintu was unlikely to compete, leaving Kazakhstan’s Margarita Matsko as the favourite.

The men’s long jump and women’s shot put too could witness interesting contests, with China’s Su Xiongfeng, an eight-metre jumper, and Liu Xiangrong being the cynosure.
The Indian Grand Prix, meanwhile, will have competition in men’s pole vault, javelin throw, 200M and 400M hurdles besides women’s long jump and 200M. A sad scenario, which the Athletics Federation of India had every chance to avoid.

Events (Asian Grand Prix): Men: 100M, 400M, 800M, 110M hurdles, long jump, triple jump, high jump, shot put. Women: 100M, 400M, 800M, 100M hurdles, triple jump, shot put, high jump, discus throw.