Liu Xiang after his win at the 10th Chinese National Games (© Jiro Mochizuki-Agence SHOT)
China vs China. That is likely the pattern of the many exciting rivalries ahead as the track & field programme of the 4th East Asian Games gets underway in Macau from 1-4 November. The Chinese have clearly decided to enter their very top athletes here, including Olympic champions Liu Xiang and Xing Huina.
In contrast, Japan, the only other East Asian power that can give the series Chinese fight, has apparently decided to keep some of their top names away from the competition at the Macau Stadium. Missing from its lineup (so far) are some of its biggest names, including Olympic champion hammer thrower Koji Murofushi, World Championship bronze medallists Shingo Suetsugu (200m) and Dai Tamesue (400m Hurdles), and newly-crowned Asian Championship winner Miho Sugimori (800m / 1500m).
South Korea has sent a respectable team, including its new decathlon star Kim Kunwoo, who won a silver medal at the recent Asian Championships in Incheon, but, on the whole, the Koreans still have some way to go to match the Japanese, much less the Chinese. As for the likes of Hong Kong and Macau, there may be a few bright sparks but they know most of their athletes are mainly competing for the experience.
A women’s 400m Hurdles to savour
Returning to the "China vs China" rivalries in the days ahead, one of the most interesting "domestic fights" one can expect is in the women's 400m Hurdles. Here Huang Xiaoxiao, the top Chinese in the event who was fifth at the World Championships in Helsinki, will have to be at her best to ward off the challenge of emerging star Wang Xing. At the 10th Chinese National Games in Nanjing recently, Huang won in a personal best time of 54.18 secs, the sixth fastest performance of the year, but she was only slightly ahead of Wang, who clocked 54.40. In the process, the 18-year-old challenger broke** the old World junior record of 54.70 held by American Lashinda Demus. Given this background, it is not surprising that the women's 400m Hurdles is one of the most keenly-anticipated races at the Macau Stadium this coming week.
Sugimori’s absence leaves limelight to National Games star
The absence of Miho Sugimori, who holds the Japanese national records for both the 800m ( 2:00.46) and 1,500m (4:09.30), means that fans will be deprived of a potentially interesting contest between her and China's rising middle distance star - Liu Qing. The latter, who is only 19, recently clinched gold medals in both the middle distance races at the Chinese National Games, clocking times that were faster than Sugimori's marks. Before that, Liu had already made her mark when she finished third and fourth respectively in the 1500m and 800m at the World University Games in Izmir, Turkey.
Pole Vault provides Chinese duel too
Expect a lot of thrills too in the women's Pole Vault even if the competition mainly involves the Chinese. Shuying Gao, who recently won the Asian Championships with a 4.53 Asian record clearance after her fifth- place finish at the World Championships, will start as the favourite. This is despite the fact that she lost to 19-year-old Zhao Yingying at the Chinese National Games. With Zhao also present in Macau, the question is: Will Gao come back hungrier than ever now that she has tasted her first defeat in a while at the Asian level? Or will Zhao be more motivated than ever to break the Asian junior record (4.50m) which she equalled in Nanjing - and beat Gao again, this time in Macau?
Liu Xiang and Xing Huina the ultimate Chinese stars
While probably less intense in terms of "domestic rivalry" among the Chinese, the men's events are set to attract interest too. Liu Xiang, for instance, will of course attract plenty of attention though he should win the 110m hurdles with ease even from the fast-improving Shi Dongpeng. In Nanjing, the Olympic champion and co-World record holder took top honours in a fast 13.10, ahead of Shi who clocked 13.44.
Then of course there is Olympic 10,000m champion Xing Huina who took both the 5000m and 10,000m doubles in the national games, and was controversially disqualified for obstruction in the 1500m, denying her an incredible triple.
Another Chinese athlete who is likely to shine in Macau is Zhang Qi. The 21-year-old shot putter's form this season has been particularly good, his recent throw of 20.15m which made him the first Chinese man to go beyond 20m.
Japanese challenge should not to be discounted
So for sure, China looks all ready to dominate. Even so, the country can't take anything for granted. Japan may not have fielded their top stars but the likes of Yoshitaka Iwamizu (men's 3000m Steeplechase),Yuki Yamaguchi (men's 400m), Hiromi Ominami (women's 5000m and 10,000m), Kumiko Ikeda (women's 100m Hurdles) and Asami Tanno (women's 400m) are capable of some fine performances.
As for Taiwan, its Decathlon duo of Hsiao Szupin and Meng Hsiangtsu, together with Korea's Kim Kunwoo may well shine. Also, in the men's 3000m Steeplechase and 5000m, Taiwan's Wu Wenchien may be small in size but he is one gutsy runner who has earned the respect of his Chinese and Japanese opponents.
Chua Chong Jin for the IAAF
Click here for the site of the East Asian Games
**subject to ratification
