The Hindu : Entries for AAG still in limbo

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 24, 2003

Sport

Sport - Asian Games

Entries for AAG still in limbo

MANILA SEPT. 23. Despite the encouraging projections back home of the top stars from Asia and Africa competing in the Afro Asian Games in Hyderabad next month, indications are that even the best from Asia will not be there in athletics.

The Asian Athletics Association (AAA) is in the process of finalising a revised list for the Games since the original idea of fielding the top three (plus one Indian entry) from the Busan Asian Games has failed to take off.

Not many Busan medallist are interested in coming to India late in the year. The AAA will finalise the list, depending on the availability of the athletes, making adjustments based on the performance of the athletes in the Asian championships that concluded here on Tuesday.

One Kuwaiti official said that since the Gulf championships would be coming around the same time (October end) as the Hyderabad Games, there was very little possibility of Gulf countries making it. Moreover, that will also be the fasting month for the Muslims.

It is certain that Susanthika Jayasinghe will skip the event as she is concentrating on her preparations for the Athens Olympics.

The other Sri Lankan star, Damayanthi Darsha, who won the 400m gold in Busan, said on Tuesday that she would not be coming because of the injury problems she has had since last year. — Our Special Correspondent

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