Athletics Preview 2013 Asian Youth Games, Nanjing China
>> August 18, 2013
Athletics preview
2013 Asian Youth Games
2009 Asian Youth
Games
The inaugural AYG were held in Singapore in June and
July 2009 with 38 Asian Athletics Association member federations competing. At
those Games China dominated the competition winning 12 medals including nine
gold. There was a close battle between the next three delegations, Japan,
Thailand and India, with each country winning eight medals and four gold. A
total of 22 countries shared in the medal count.
Many of the athletes have in the ensuring years gone
on to successfully compete at the major international meets including the IAAF
world juniors, 2010 YOG, 2010 Commonwealth Games including: Korea’s Lee Sun-Yae
who competed at the IAAF 2011 world championships and Japan’s Masaki Nashimoto
who won silver in the 100m at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in a swift 10.51.
2013 Asian
Youth Games Federations
In athletics 37 federations will contest the 2013
AYG, one less than in 2009, however a number of athletes will compete in the
Independent Olympic Athletes team, and with entries numbering 400 athletes, it
will be a more competitive event than the inaugural games.
Host nation, China, will be represented by the
largest delegation of 61 athletes, followed by Thailand with 30 and Chinese
Taipei 25 athletes. Three nations that did not compete in athletics in 2009,
join the games in 2013: Afghanistan, Lebanon and Malaysia.
2013 Asian
Youth Games feature athletes
The competition is for athletes in the under-17 age
division, however a few under-18 athletes will compete for the Independent
Olympic Athletes team. There are a number of the world’s leading under-17 year
old athletes entered for competition including:
LI Zhe (CHN) – boys 200m
Statistics: Finalist 2013 IAAF World Youth Championships; PB 21.49; U17 world
ranking 10th
LI Zhe, from Hubei provience, is one of the leading and most
consistent sprinters at the 2013 AYG clocking five times under 21.70 this year.
He progressed through the heat, semi and into the final at the IAAF world youth
championships in Donetsk in the Ukraine in July. He clocked his personal best
of 21.49 in the semi-final. He has also run 10.68 for the 100m this season. Li
faces good competition from Thailand’s Nutthapong
Weerawongratanasiri (THA) who in June, won the 200m at the SEA Youth
Athletics championships in Ho-Chi-Minh where he clocked an impressive 21.53.
LIU Hongliang (CHN) – boys
3000m
Statistics: PBs 3000m 8:28.19, 5000m 14:20.44; U17 world rankings 3000m 10th,
5000m 3rd
Liu Hongliang, China’s national youth 1500m and 3000m champion, will
start as favourite in the 3000m in Nanjing. From the providence of Inner
Mongolia, Liu has been competitive with the nation’s senior athletes placing
fourth in the 5000 metres at the senior national grand prix final where he
clocked a time of 14:20.44 to rank him number three under-17 in the world.
FURUYA Takumu (JPN) – boys
400m hurdles
Statistics: PB 51.00; 4th place IAAF world youth championships; U17 world
ranking 1st
Takumu Furuya of Japan is one of the competitions leading athletes.
In July, the 16-year-old placed fourth at the IAAF world youth (under-18)
championships. He clocked his personal best of 51.00 in the semi-final, a time that
remains over a second faster than any other 16-year-old in the world. Earlier
this month, he tuned up the AYG by winning the Japanese national schools
championships in 51.16.
BAI Jiaxu (CHN) – boys
high jump
Statistics: PB 2.18m; silver medallist IAAF world youth championships; U17
world ranking 1st
Bai Jiaxu, at just 15, is the world’s second best under-18 athlete
following his silver medal winning result at the IAAF world youth championships last month in
the Ukraine. Bai, from Shanxi province, has compiled a consistent record this
year, with three competitions at 2.15m or higher. Tremendous competition will
be provided by Japan’s 2.10m jumper, Yuji
Hiramatsu, who is the fourth ranked under-17 athlete in the world.
CHENG Yulong (CHN) – boys
discus
Statistics: PB 62.80m; bronze medal
IAAF world youth championships; U17 world ranking 1st
Cheng Yulong, a bronze medallist at the recent IAAF world youth
championships, carries the pressure of being a local favourite as he is from
the province of Jiangsu. The world’s leading under-17 discus thrower, Cheng, is
also a handy shot putter with a best of 17.77m.
DING Yuanbo (CHN) – boys
hammer throw
Statistics: PB 67.46m; U17 world ranking 2nd
Another with the pressure of being a local from the Jiangsu province
is hammer thrower Ding Yuanbo. He is the world’s second best under-17 thrower
with a best of 67.46, recorded in April when he won the national youth title
for China.
CHAND Duttee (AOI) – girls
100m
Statistics: PB 11.62; finalist IAAF world youth championships
At the IAAF world youth championships in July, Duttee Chand set an
Indian national record of 11.62 as she progressed to the final. She also has
impressive 200m and 400m pbs of 23.76 and 55.55.
ANDO Fukiko (JPN) – girls
3000m
Statistics: PB 9:13.24; U17 world ranking 5th
Fukiki Ando is expected to be one of the most comfortable winners at
the games, as she possess a personal best nearly a minute ahead of her closest
rival. Her best time of 9:13.24 was recorded this month at the national high
school championships of Japan.
FUJIMORI Nana (JPN) –
girls 100m hurdles
Statistics: PB 13.66; semi-finalist IAAF world youth championships
Nana Fujimori progressed to the semi-finalist at the recent IAAF
world youth championships where she clocked 13.75, just outside her personal
best of 13.66, recorded in 2012.
NGUYEN Thi Truc Mai (VIE)
– girls triple jump
Statistics: PB 12.76m; U17 world ranking 4th
The national junior champion of Vietnam, Thi Truc Mai Nguyen is the
world’s fourth best under-17 triple jumper. She is also a capable long jumper
with a personal best of 5.97m.
David Tarbotton for AdrianSprints.com
