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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 SPORTS ASIAN GAMES Incheon ready to showcase cream of Asian sports SEOUL: An array of Olympians and stars of sports niche and new arrive in the South Korean city of Incheon for the 17th Asian Games this month, bringing together some 10,000 athletes for a 16-day multi-sport spectacu- lar second only in scale to the Summer Olympics. From weightlifting to wushu, rowing to rugby sevens and swimming to sepaktakraw, the Games will showcase elite Asian talent in 28 Olympic and eight non-Olympic sports from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4, with a total of 439 gold medals up for grabs. While China are certainties to top the medal count for the ninth straight Games, South Korea have set an ambitious target of 90 golds, though the hosts would probably settle for less as long as they finish above fierce rivals Japan. India, perennial underachievers in world sport, are determined to improve on the 14 golds they won four years ago in Guangzhou, while Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand will battle it out for bragging rights in Southeast Asia. Four years on from Guangzhou’s glitzy Games, which by some estimates left the city in debt to the tune of $32 billion, South Korea has spent a reported 1.2 trillion won ($1.2 billion) on construction costs to host the event for a third time. Operational costs are expected to run to 480 billion won. The huge costs of hosting the multi-sports event may make countries think twice about bidding for future Games. Vietnam quit as 2019 hosts amid concerns it would not prove financially viable. India and Malaysia both decided against throwing their hats into the ring to host the event, citing financial concerns. Indonesia looks to be the only candidate willing to step in and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is announce its decision on the host at its general assembly in Incheon later this month. CHINESE POWERHOUSE Troubled by few financial concerns, China, as expected, is sending the biggest delegation to Incheon with 899 athletes and will once again hope to use the Games as a springboard to launch the careers of future Olympic champions. Swimmers Sun Yang and Ye Shiwen both made their big breakthroughs in Guangzhou by each winning two gold medals before repeating the feat at the London Olympics in 2012. The double Olympic champions will form the core of China’s powerful swim team, who will look to grab more than half of the 38 INCHEON: Asian Games mascots Barame (left), Vichuon (center) and Chumuro posing on the flag plaza of the Athletes’ Village ahead of the upcoming 2014 Asian Games swimming golds on offer in Incheon. during a media tour in Incheon. — AFP The Chinese are also likely to dominate diving, gym- nastics, table tennis and badminton and field heavy favorites across many of the 36 sports in Incheon. While organizers will hope to keep the focus firmly on sport, ‘12-toed athlete’ knows Beijing’s strained relations with some of its Asian neigh- bors over territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas could add spice to the competition. Beijing has been involved in disputes with Vietnam, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries over claims in the where the shoe pinches South China Sea, and tensions have also been height- ened with Japan and South Korea over Beijing’s declara- tion of an air defence identification zone. NEW DELHI: Pursuing a largely unrewarding lot of science and technology go into the While ‘sports diplomacy’ can sometimes help smooth Olympic sport in a cricket-obsessed country making of modern sports footwear and they bumpy relations between countries, Lee Tai-hwan, direc- requires adjustments but Indian heptathlete are not really known for that,” said Sarkar. tor of Seoul’s Sejong Institute, said it would be difficult Swapna Barman has taken it to a new level - Barman would have to “adjust” until she lands to expect any concrete improvements arising from the squeezing six toes in each shoe designed for a job, reckons her coach at the SAI centre in Asian Games. “While sports events like this can act as a five. Born with six toes in each foot, the 18- Kolkata. Interestingly, Sarkar had initially catalyst, the Asian Games won’t be a watershed moment year-old from a poor family in Jalpaiguri in the rejected Barman, who originally began as a to resolve conflicts and improve the ties in the region,” east Indian state of West Bengal has been high-jumper. “I was looking for jumpers and he told Reuters by telephone. “Although we cannot forced to run, jump and throw wearing shoes even though people spoke highly of her, I completely rule out the positive effects the Games that have affected more than aiding her per- thought she was too short to have any future would have on the geopolitical situation in Asia, they formance. “Even after all these years, it still in high-jump. won’t be big or long-lasting.” hurts every time I put my shoes on,” Barman “Later I noticed she jumps with a tremen- told Reuters in an interview. “It’s worse during dous burst of power, which got me thinking GOLDEN EXEMPTION the running events. I try to adjust but my toes about channelling that power to another For most of the continent’s athletes the lure of an curl under pressure.” event for better results.” Sarkar introduced her Asian Games gold medal rests in the fame and fortune it Her lamentation sounds almost an to long jump and the throw events and was often brings, but for South Korean men there is a bigger anachronism in an era when athletes are try- happy with what he saw in her obedient five- prize at stake - an exemption from two years of military ing to get the best out of modern sports sci- foot-three-inch student. “We toyed with hep- service. South Korea is technically still at war with its ence and would not compromise on the tathlon last year and after two month’s prac- northern neighbor after the 1950-53 Korean War ended sports equipments they use. She paused tice, she scored 4435 points to finish second in when asked if she tried customized shoes. “I Youth Nationals. It was only this year that she in a truce and not a peace treaty. It requires all able-bod- Indian heptathlete Swapna Barman ied men to serve around two years in the military. did try a pair from a local manufacturer. It did turned a full-fledged heptathlete and scored However, in a bid to foster elite athletes South Korea not last two days.” Coach Subhash Sarkar, who poor and the pressure points were all wrong.” rupees ($930), calculates Sarkar. “She has got 5400 to qualify for the Asian Games.” offers exemptions to those winning gold at the Asian discovered her and remains her greatest moti- Barman, currently sweating it out at the proper shoes for shot put and 800 metres but Sarkar has set Barman a target of 5500 Games or a medal of any color at the Olympics. Hosting vation, explains what a reticent Barman would Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in I’m afraid she may have to compete in other points in Incheon. In the last Asian Games in the Games for a third time after Seoul in 1986 and Busan not. “She is not a star athlete for whom Adidas Patiala, has naturally been left with no other events wearing substandard locally made Guangzhou, compatriot GG Pramila scored in 2002, South Korea have gold medal favorites in Park or Nike will design special shoes with precise choice but to train with the pain and that’s not shoes.” 5415 to win a bronze. As she talks of her first Tae-hwan (swimming), Son Yeon-jae (rhythmic gymnas- pressure points, perfect grip and other specifi- the only problem plaguing the Asian Games- major international event later this month, tics) and Oh Jin-hyek (recurve archery). They also have cations,” Sarkar said. “They’ll do that for a star bound athlete. Even the regular shoes are a Goodwill inadequate the word “adjust” resurfaces. “I don’t think high hopes in shooting, fencing, judo and taekwondo, who will tweet a picture and sales would luxury for the teenager whose father is para- Some local manufacturers have offered to about the problems anymore. I have to as well as team events such as baseball and men’s and immediately soar. lyzed and elder brother a daily wager. She design special shoes for her but Sarkar says adjust to whatever is available. Sir has set a women’s soccer. “We did try some local manufacturers but needs seven pair of shoes for a heptathlon excellence needs more than just goodwill. “I target and my job is to practice and try and North Korea will also send athletes to the Games but those were really substandard. The grip was meet and that means around 56,000 Indian have respect for their emotions but honestly a achieve that.” — Reuters negotiations on its participation have been tricky. Late last month the North announced it had decided not to send a squad of 350 cheerleaders to Incheon and First Asia, then world N Korea set for a rare accused Seoul of “abusing sacred sports and cultural exchange” for a “sinister political purpose”. Yang Moo-jin, sports foray in South professor of University of North Korean Studies, said there was no undercurrent of warming relations to the for ‘dominant’ China SEOUL: A delegation of over 250 North Korean athletes, North’s participation in the Asian Games.

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