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ASIAN GAMES - DOHA 2006 BRIEFSDate: 14.11.2006
Posted by: Anabolic Info Team Qatar
ndia’s Navpreet qualifies for Doha Asian Games
India’s Navpreet Singh Cheema has qualified for the ensuing Doha Asian Games by throwing the 60-pound iron ball to a distance of 18.93 metres in the 46th National Athletics Championship concluded in Chennai on November 5. Cheema stayed well ahead of his Delhi counterpart Kuldeep Singh Mann who put the shot to a distance of 18.18m.
On the basis of this performance, Cheema has been selected to represent the country in the Doha Asiad, Cheema, who has numerous national and international medals under his belt, will be a strong medal hope for India.
Cheema, who hails from Doraha, about 20km from Ludhiana, is at present employed with the Punjab Police on the post of inspector. Under the guidance of his elder brother Harinder Singh Cheema, who is a national-level discus thrower and currently appointed as a coach in Guru Nanak Stadium, Navpreet opted for shot put in 1995. In two years, in 1997, his hardwork bore fruits as he won the silver medal in the Junior Asiad held at Bankok. He also brought accolades for the country by winning silver medal in the 2002 Senior Asia Track and Field event held at Colombo.
Navpreet Singh Cheema has already left for Muscat for training, ahead of the Asiad.
Talking to Newsline, Harinder Singh Cheema said Navpreet had suffered from a calf injury soon after the 2002 Commonwealth held at Manchester, and due other injuries he could not participate in the Commonwealth Games held in Australia this year.
“He is fully fit now and I am sure he will live up to our expectations,” said Harinder Cheema. He added that Navpreet has done considerably well in the recent past. He won silver in the 2005 Asia Track and Field championship, held in Korea, while stood seventh in the World Championship held at Athens.
Harinder said there is tough competition ahead in the Doha Asian Games, where Qatar, Saudi Arabia and China are considered to be the favourites in the event.
Incheon steps further to hosting Asian Games
Five months before the final ballot, the city of Incheon demonstrated its eligibility to host the 2014 Asian Games to the members of the Olympic Council of Asia’s evaluation committee during a visit by the committee.
OCA officials chorused high praise for Incheon’s organized campaign and preparations during a dinner party at the Federation of Korean Industries building in Yoido, central Seoul. Committee members said the city seems to be well organized to make the best of the Asian Games. Some 10 Asian ambassadors took part in the dinner along with lots of Incheon bidding committee officials, local entrepreneurs and the city’s lawmakers.
“We were generally impressed with the plans, facilities, venues and the development of Incheon City. All of them were very organized and very successful for hosting the Asian Games,” said Celso L. Dayrit of the Philippines, OCA vice president and committee leader. The official was careful to make a direct comparison of the two bidders but still stressed it is important for an Asian Games host to be competent in every aspect to make it a successful event.
“Incheon and New Delhi are very different cities,” Dayrit said. “Whoever the host becomes, what we look for is make a successful event, so we will make sure that the bidding city is capable of providing convenient facilities for the athletes and officials, so the Asian Games are successfully held.”
The committee arrived in South Korea on Sunday to check the city’s preparations for hosting the Asian continent’s biggest sports event. (Agencies)
Vietnam ready for Doha 2006
A total of 247 Vietnamese athletes will compete in 21 sports at the 15th Asian Games slated for Dec. 1-15 in Qatar with hope of gaining gold medals in at least seven events, including taekwondo, karate, wushu, billiards-snooker, chess, weightlifting and wresting, according to the country’s National Sports and Physical Training Committee on Sunday.
Local athletes are also expected to bag home gold medals in bodybuilding and sepak takraw.
In the previous Asiad four years ago in South Korea, Vietnam’s 125-member delegation competed in 16 sports and won four gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals.
Courtesy: Dagoc
UAE, Malaysiawell poised for Doha
United Arab Emirates karate champion Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, daughter of Dubai ruler HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has set out a tough training schedule for the UAE karate team as it prepares for Doha 2006.
“We cannot think of any rest till the Asian Games are over,” Sheikha Maitha told Gulf News. “Everything we do from now on is geared towards getting prepared for this important competition.”
The UAE squad has returned from winning one gold and one silver medal at the Coupe de France karate championship held in Paris, November 1 to 6.
Quadruple Gulf Champion Sheikha Maitha came second out of 36 fighters in the women’s over-60kg kumite category and was only beaten by French champion Emily Mottet in the final. Teammate Haya Juma went one better - winning gold in the junior category.
“We were competing against top-class athletes. It was a great opportunity for us to fight against some of the best in the world and come through with two medals,” said Sheikha Maitha. “I learnt a lot from it.”
In order to sharpen up for Doha 2006, several European national karate squads including France, Germany and Italy, have been invited to train with the UAE team in Dubai.
Meanwhile Malaysian national karate coach Arivalagan Ponniyah is tipping his eight-member karate squad to return from Doha with two gold medals and eight overall.
Team captain and Busan 2002 gold medallist Puvaneswaran Ramasamy is Malaysia’s best karate prospect. The highly experienced 32 year-old will be contesting his fourth Asian Games in the kumite -55kg category and is a Southeast Asian Games and Asian Championship winner.
“Puvaneswaran has been in this sport since the age of 14 and has been fighting since 1990. I believe he will still be able to contribute in Doha,” said Arivalagan, a bronze medallist at the 1988 Bangkok Asian Games.
Arivalagan believes his squad of six kumite (fighting) and two kata (demonstration) competitors can win two gold medals in Doha after encouraging performances in the World Championships in Finland in October.
“We have been competing in the World Championship since 1972, but for the first time we advanced to the semifinal stage; that is an improvement in my opinion, so I hope that the inspiring performances by the athletes will continue in Doha.”
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