India's Anju Bobby George jumping in the Athens Olympics (© Getty Images)
SingaporeMore than 100 top athletes from the Asian continent will compete at the Asian All-Star Championships in the Choa Chu Kang Stadium in Singapore on 28 September 2004.
They include some of the best from countries such as China, Japan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Vietnam, and the hosts Singapore.
Names to watch out for include China's Asian champions Feng Yun (women's 100m Hurdles), Ma Ning (women's Javelin) and Wu Tao (men's Discus), Japan's Miho Sugimori (Asia's No 1 for women's 800m), India's World bronze medallist Anju Bobby George (sixth in the Athens Olympics women's Long Jump), and Kazakhstan's Yegorov Grigoriy (Asia's top male pole vaulter).
There is much at stake. In all, some US$ 56,000 - the largest ever prize purse at a Singapore track and field meet - will be offered. The top three in each event will win US$ 2000, US$ 1000 and US$ 500 respectively. More cash incentives will be given to record breakers. For example, the Asian Athletic Association will offer US$ 50,000 for a World record, and US$ 15,000 for a World Top-10 performance, and for an Asian record mark, the reward is US$ 2500.
Asian Olympic gold medallists Koji Murofushi (Hammer) and Mizuki Noguchi (Marathon) of Japan, as well as Liu Xiang (110m Hurdles) and Xing Huina (10,000m) of China will make an appearance though they won't be competing. Their fans can look forward to gaining insights and knowledge from them through various clinics.
On why Murofushi, Noguchi, Liu and Xing - Asia's brightest stars for the track & field events in Athens last month – would not be competing, the Singapore Amateur Athletic Association said that the 16 events for the meet were decided before the Olympics, and it was too late to include the four athletes' discipline’s at this stage.
Whatever, it is great for Singapore - a country that has yet to taste success in track & field on the global stage - to have present athletes like these top Olympians. There is much it can learn from them.
Most of all, these top athletes are good role models for young Asians.
Citing the example of Murofushi, Asian Athletic Association's Secretary General Mr Maurice Nicholas, one of the driving forces behind this meeting said, “Murofushi has shown that we can overcome whatever limitations to become the very best. He is also a great ambassador of his event. Through him, an obscure event like Hammer Throw has become more well known in Japan and even Asia. Most importantly, he continues to be modest and approachable despite his success.”
Chua Chong Jin for the IAAF
