by Larry Eder
Barshim soars, 2.41 meters! photo by PhotoRun.net
Barshim and much more
WUHAN (CHN): The 21st Asian Athletics Championships will take place from June 3 to 7. The men’s high jump will attract attention due to the presence of Mutaz Essa Barshim and Zhang Guowei, who improved to 238 in Eugene. Another good competition should come in the men’s 400m, where junior sensation Abdalelah Haroun will take on Asian record-holder Youssef Al-Masrahi. Kemi Adekoya will try and achieve the women’s 400m-400mH double, which she managed last year at the Asian Games. In the throws, Vikas Gowda is the favourite for the men’s discus and Tajikistan’s Dilshod Nazarov, the defending champion, is the favourite for the men’s hammer. In the women’s hammer, China’s Zhang Wenxiu should have the edge. Musaab Abdelrahman Bala will defend his 800m title, while Tintu Luka is the women’s favourite. In the men’s 5000m, Mohamad Al-Garni and Albert Rop will battle. Shitaye Eshete of Bahrain will defend her 10,000m title. In the men’s 100m, Femi Ogunode and Zhang Peimang will duel. The recent Chinese record holder Su Bingtian (9.99) in Eugene will not compete.
