The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Star-studded field at Shanghai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 17, 2005

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Sport - Athletics

Star-studded field at Shanghai

SHANGHAI: Sprint ace Justin Gatlin heads a star-studded roster of athletics champions gathering in Shanghai this weekend for the Golden Grand Prix.

The Olympic and world 100 metres champion will be joined in Saturday's competition by Olympic 110-metre hurdles gold medallist and Shanghai native Liu Xiang. Distance runner Kenenisa Bekele and pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva — the reigning IAAF track and field athletes of the year — will also be seen in action at the Shanghai Stadium.

The one-day meeting marks China's debut as host of a major international track and field event, part of efforts to build interest in the sport here ahead of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games.

Although the regular season ended after the World Athletics Final in Monaco earlier this month, a short Asian leg of one day meets is traditionally held after the end of formal competition.

Shanghai will host fourteen events in all, with men competing in the 100, 200, 800, and 3,000-metre events, along with the 110-metre hurdles, high jump and long jump.

Women will compete in the 100, 200, 400, 800, and 5,000-metre races, along with the shot put and pole vault.

Gatlin will seek to redeem himself here after a fourth place finish in the 200 metres in Monaco.

``After Monaco, I'm looking to putting down a fast time in the 100,'' said Gatlin, who blamed ``a bit of cramping'' for his sub-par performance in his last race.

The 23-year-old Brooklyn native said he was shooting for a sub-10 second time. ``I am ready to do it. I'm fit and I'm ready to compete.''

Competing alongside him will be American veteran and former world champion Maurice Greene, Monaco silver medallist Aziz Zakari of Ghana, Portugal's Francis Obikwelu, Frenchman Ronald Pognon, and American Leonard Scott.

The men's hurdles, the evening's final event, are set to be a highlight.

Liu, a national hero since his Olympic win at Athens, will again face former world champion Allen Johnson, who won the event in Monaco and finished third — one place behind Liu — at last month's World Championships in Helsinki. — AP

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