Gay, Powell set for Shanghai showdown

Jamaican former world record holder Asafa Powell and American Tyson Gay will face off in the 100 metres at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix on Sunday.

Organisers had previously said the sprint rivals would not participate in the post-season meet, but announced Thursday they would appear, after triple Olympic and world sprint champion Usain Bolt pulled out, citing fatigue. "Asafa Powell and his American rival Tyson Gay will compete... The rivalry of the two superstars sets the stage for what is expected to be one of the most heated races at the competition," organisers said in a statement.

The 100m race is now expected to be a highlight of the Shanghai event along with the anticipated comeback of hometown hurdling hero Liu Xiang, whose foot injury forced him to dramatically pull out of the Beijing Olympics.

Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva will also compete in Shanghai in a bid for redemption after failing to win a medal at the world championships in Berlin, where she was chasing an unprecedented third consecutive world gold. Gay won gold in the 100m in the 2007 world championships but finished runner-up in Berlin last month to world record holder Bolt.

Powell held the 100m world record of 9.72 seconds before Bolt set a series of stunning new marks, including his latest of 9.58 seconds.SHANGHAI, AFP