China see red over Bahrain ‘poaching’
With a staggering 16 gold, six silver and five bronze, China had little trouble in establishing their supremacy at the 20th Asian Athletics meet that concluded at the Balewadi Sports Complex here on Sunday.
Though there was nothing surprising in China’s dominance, the meteoric rise of Bahrain, who finished second with five gold, seven silver and three bronze pushing Japan to third place, has been alarming. The Gulf nations are known to procure African talent to boost their tally but the International Association of Athletics Federation’s ‘mute’ approach on the issue has put China on alert.
The middle and long-distance races at the continental meet were dominated by the Gulf nations who fielded naturalised runners.
Kenya-born Ruth Jebet, who ran a start-to-finish race denying India’s Sudha Singh the gold, was brought to Bahrain as a teenager while the top two women’s winners in the 1500m were Ethiopians representing the UAE and Bahrain, respectively.
Bahrain’s Shitaye Eshete, who set the lone championship record on the first day clocking 32:17.29 to better a 24-year-old record is again of Ethiopian origin. Betlhem Desalegn, who took a grand double gold for the UAE in the 1500 and the 5,000m is another example.
This has has clearly upset China and the Asian powerhouse now does not even believe in fielding long distance runners knowing the outcome.
“Athletes from Africa are good at distance running. It is legal but in the long run, distance running in Asia will not develop,” felt China’s head coach Feng Shuyong. “If African athletes come here, then there are fewer chances for Asians. They will give up as they see there is no hope,” he added.
Bahrain, on their part, are unmoved by the criticism. “Anyone who has a Bahraini passport is a local. We are not buying athletes but getting talent which can prove itself. We spend a lot of time working on them,” said Dr Mohammed bin Diana, Bahrain’s director of international relations.
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