Saudi Arabia banking on athletes for Asian glory

ASIAD: Saudi Arabia is banking on its strong athletics squad to bring home a clutch of medals from the 15th Asian Games that get under way in Qatar next month.

Surprisingly, the desert kingdom is not sending a football team for a competition it would have had a good chance of winning.

The football Gulf Cup of Nations starts in the United Arab Emirates in January and it is thought the squad is being saved in a bid to regain the Gulf crown it ceded last year to Qatar.

In the last Asian Games in Busan four years ago, Saudi Arabia won seven golds, one silver and one bronze for 11th place in the overall medal standings. It was in track and field that it went beyond all expectations, snagging five golds and one silver.

Ahead of this year's event, the Saudi squad has been sent to train with US coaching guru John Smith, whose stable includes the likes of sprinters Maurice Greene and Leonard Scott, and 110m hurdler Allen Johnson.

"We want to repeat what we did in Busan, or even surpass it," said Prince Nawaf bin Mohammed al-Saud, president of of the Saudi athletics federation.

"Don't be surprised if we do it," he warned. "Athletics will be our main focus."

Mashed al-Otaibi was a double gold medal winner in Busan, winning the 5000m and 10,000m titles. But Otaibi picked up an injury last month and his place on the plane for Doha is not a given.

While Prince Nawaf prepares to blood some new youngsters in Qatar, there is a wealth of experience also making the trip.

Long jumper Mohammed al-Khuwalidi, the Asian indoor champion and record holder with 8.44m, has been a consistent performer on the European circuit this season and looks set to continue his fine form.

PARIS, Tuesday AFP