SINGAPORE, 28 September 2004 — Many of Asia’s best athletes began arriving in Singapore yesterday as the city-state prepared to host a unique competition for the region’s elite track and field stars.
Medalists from regional events such as the Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games and Asian Grand Prix events will compete in the inaugural Asian All Stars Athletics Championship today.
Four Athens gold medalists, including Chinese 110m hurdle sensation Liu Xiang, will also travel to Singapore for the event, however they will only be here for promotional purposes and to conduct clinics rather than compete.
The other Athens Olympic victors are Chinese women’s 10,000 meters runner Xing Huina, Japanese women’s marathon champion Mizuki Noguchi and compatriot Koji Murofushi, who won the men’s hammer throw event.
Indian long-jumper Anju Bobby George, who became her nation’s first World Championship medalist with a bronze in Paris last year, will be the highest profile Asian athlete competing today.
Anju, the Asian Games 2002 champion, beat Russian gold medalist Tatyana Lebedeva to win the long jump event at the Yokohama track and field meet last week in Japan, after finishing sixth in Athens.
The winners in each event today will receive $2,000, with bonuses of $2,500 for an Asian record, $15,000 for a world top 10 performance and $50,000 for a world record.
Singapore is hoping the all-stars concept will become an annual event.
