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Delhi gets tentative nod from IAAF

By Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI JUNE 13. The suggested route of the Asia's first World half marathon, to be hosted by New Delhi on October 2, 2004, has only received tentative approval of the IAAF delegation.

A delegation of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) went through the suggested route and found it good, according to the President of the Amateur Athletic Federation of India (AAFI), Suresh Kalmadi.

The half marathon would start and finish at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Lodhi Garden, Safdarjang's tomb, AIIMS, IIT Campus, Qutab Minar and Moolchand hospital are the major landmarks on the route.

The AAFI President, who addressed the press conference here along with the Director General of the IAAF, Pierre Weiss, however, did not elaborate on which way the race would proceed through. "Whatever technical changes that are required will be included,'' was Mr. Kalmadi's cryptic reply.

The IAAF delegation, led by its Vice-President Prof. Helmut Digel, was on a two-day visit to the capital to assess the organisational preparations. Prof. Digel has said that he would try his best to get world's leading runners to participate in the New Delhi event.

Mr. Kalmadi, who is also the President of the Asian Athletics Association (AAA), also announced the athletics calender for 2004.

There was a slight change in the four-leg Grand Prix circuit _ Colombo hosts the first meet instead of Hyderabad, which will be the second stop in 2004. Bangkok and Manila remain the third and fourth legs of the Grand Prix.

The prize money on offer in 2004 had also been enhanced considerably, from $167,000 to $300,000. The AAA, which had recently announced an Asian All Star Meet in Singapore, has also been made a prize money event.

The 2004 athletic calender (Asia): Asian Indoor championships, Tehran, February 7-8; 7th Asian cross-country championships, Pune, February 22; 11th Asian Junior athletic championships, Penang, June 12-15; Asian Grand Prix, Colombo, June 19; Asian Grand Prix, Hyderabad, June 23; Asian Grand Prix Bangkok, June 27; Asian Grand Prix, Manila, July 1; 13th IAAF World half marathon, New Delhi, October 2; 9th Asian Marathon Championships, Seoul, November 7.

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