The Hindu : All Stars meet to be held in Singapore

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 29, 2003

Sport

Sport - Athletics

All Stars meet to be held in Singapore

By Our Sports Reporter

HYDERABAD MAY 28. There is something to cheer about for the Asian athletes in terms of big-time competition. For, the Asian Athletic Association Council meeting held here today decided to stage the inaugural

edition of the Asian All Stars athletic meet in Singapore next September. This was disclosed by Mr. Maurice R. Nicholas, Treasurer of AAA, to The Hindu during the Asian Grand Prix meet here.

The meet is basically for the Asian champions in 17 disciplines and will carry cash incentives of $5000, $3000 and $1000 for the gold, silver and

bronze medallists respectively.

``This is part of series of our efforts to ensure that the Asian athletes do not suffer for want of exposure,'' Mr.Maurice said. Some of the other major decisions taken include hosting the Asian cross country championship in Pune next February, the inaugural Asian Indoor championship in Teheran on February 7 and 8, the Asian Junior championship in Malaysia from June 12 to 15.

Apparently, bowing to the sentiments of the athletes and the organisers, the Council also decided to host the next edition of the Asian Grand Prix series in June only and not in May. The other events included the Junior world championship in Singapore next July, the Asian marathon championship in Korea next November, the World half-marathon in Delhi in October next year.

In another significant decision, the AAA council also endorsed unanimously the candidature of Mr. Suresh Kalmadi for re-election as the Asian representative on the International Amateur Athletic Federation which will be meeting in Paris during the World championship in August this year. The Council also decided to co-opt Craire Chehab of Lebanon as the woman representative on the AAA Council.

Mr. Morris also said that the AAA had provisionally accepted the membership of East Timor to facilitate its recognition to the IAAF.

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