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Asians plan a grand march in Athens
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With Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore doing India proud, it's time to look around at how the other Asians have progressed. STAN RAYAN takes us on a promising Asian athletic tour at the Athens Olympics.
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Left: Long jumper Hussein Taher Al-Sabee of Saudi Arabia in action.
ON AUGUST 26, just a day before her final, Anju Bobby George could be keenly watching the men's long jump at Athens. No, there's no Indian in the event and Anju would not be hovering around the pit to pick up any last-minute tips for her life's biggest test the next evening.
The Powell factor
Instead, she could be watching, and probably cheering, Saudi Arabian Hussein Taher Al-Sabee. Apart from sharing the same continent, Taher and Anju shared the same coach, world record-holder Mike Powell, last year before the Paris Worlds. While Anju dropped Powell shortly after winning the historical bronze in Paris, probably owing to the huge expenses involved, Taher still has the services of the American as he chases Olympic glory.
Taher in form
Taher finished fifth in Paris but he has bounced back stunningly this season. He is currently No. 2 in the IAAF world rankings, behind the consistent American Dwight Phillips. The 25-year-old Asian record-holder landed a legal best of 8.35 m in California this May. Regular in the 8.30 m range, the Saudi also has a wind-aided 8.41 m this season.
While Anju hopes to become the first Asian woman to win a long jump medal at the Olympics, Taher will just be hoping to revive the Asian tradition in the sport.
The Japanese were among the world's best in the long and triple jumps in the 1930s. And Japan's Chuhei Nambu is the only man to hold the long and triple jump world records at the same time. He held the long jump world record (7.98, set in 1931) when he won the triple jump gold (15.72 m) at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics with a world mark (he won the long jump bronze too at LA). Nambu's long jump world record stood for four years before the legendary American Jesse Owens shattered it with history's first eight-metre leap (8.13 m) in 1935.
Nambu's story
Nambu's story is a very peculiar one. His watched horses to learn how to run and frogs and monkeys to learn how to jump. Another Japanese, Naoto Tajima, was the last Asian to win an Olympic long jump medal, with a bronze behind Jesse Owens and German Luz Long at the 1936 Berlin Games.
Taher is not the only Asian who will be gunning for gold at Athens. China's high hurdler, 21-year-old Liu Xiang is also a strong prospect. After leading the season's world 110 m list with his 13.06 secs run till early July, the Paris Worlds bronze medallist is now No.2 in the world but with only a fraction of a second separating him from the leader, the aging American Allen Johnson.
Watch out for Liu
"I expect Liu to be the toughest hurdler to beat. He is the one who makes it difficult for me to fall asleep," said the 33-year-old Johnson. His girlfriend, the newly crowned World 100 m champion Torri Edwards who is likely to be thrown out of the US Olympic team for taking a banned stimulant, could be another reason for the sleepless nights. Johnson's little setbacks could just work out to Liu's advantage.
The other events where the Asians figure among the world's best are mostly low profile stuff. China's Hongjuan Song, who has worked on her technique after a disappointing run in recent majors, leads the world in women's 20-km race walk but there is a big bunch of Russians waiting to walk her down. Men's hammer thrower Koji Murofushi is another medal contender.
Japan's strength
A nation strong in road running, Japan has had a medallist in the women's marathon at the last three Olympics with Naoko Takahashi winning the gold in Sydney four years ago. Japan's Reiko Tosa is world No.3 this season while China's Chunxiu Zho is No.2.
So, get set for Asia's grand march.
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