New Delhi, Sept 19: With most of their leading stars including Anju Bobby George absent, India will look upto Asian Games Champion Neelam J Singh and silver medallist K M Binu to lead the country's challenge in the 15th Asian Athletic Championships beginning in Manila from tomorrow. The meet to be held at Rizal track and field stadium will see a strong Chinese contingent with 11 Asian games gold medallists and would be a good launching pad for India's upcoming youngsters.

Asian Games gold medallist Neelam, who last month became the first Indian finalist in a World Athletic Championships in Paris, is a strong contender to win the gold but the Indian will face stiff challenge from China's Song Amin. Binu, who won a surprise silver medal in Busan behind Baharin's Rashid Mohammed, would be again hoping to repeat his performance but the younger brother of K M Beenamol would find a 17-year-old Saudi in his way.

Mohd al-Salhi, the Asian Grand Prix Champion, is in great form this season and he would be the man to beat in the double lap race. The Saudi posted a personal best of 1:46.48 seconds in the second round in Paris. India's other medal hopes were Madhu Saxena (800m), Bobby Aloysius (high jump) and Soma Biswas (heptathlon) in the women's section. The medal hopefuls among men include distance runner Gulab Chand, K J Manoj Lal in the 400m, Shakti Singh (shot put) and Anil Kumar (discus).

Bureau Report