World Champion Mutaz Barshim and Asian Champion Abdalelah Haroun ruled out of Asian Championship

Host Qatar had a big blow to their team as the Asian Games Gold medalist and defending 400m champion Abdalelah Haroun suffered an injury during yesterday’s training which will keep him out of the  at the 23rd Asian Athletics Championship starting today at the Eha.lifa Stadium in Doha,  Qatar.

Meanwhile defending world champion high jumper Muter Esse Barshim who is recovering from an injury has also been ruled out from the competition as he is getting ready for the world championship later this year. Seven Sri Lankans in action on day one

Seven Sri Lankan athletes win be action today including in the Women’s 40Orn finals. Meanwhile the Sri Lanka team was given the chance to try out block starts with Official starters at the competition venue yesterday to get used to the track and conditions of the stadium.

The duel between 800M duo Nimali Liyanarachchi and Gayanthika Abeyrathne will be resume which will get Sri Lanka events underway with 800m round one which  will be worked off at 11:00 am Sri Lanka time. Quarter Miler Nadeesha  Ramanayaka has a tough schedule and she will have to compete in the 400m finals at 9:58 pa Sri Lanka time: this will be the only final within the day for the Sri Lankans. The 400M Women’s event is set to be one of the fastest in the history of the Asian Championship as Bahrain’s  Salem Eid Nazer the World Championship Silver medalist and Rio Olympic Bronze medalist is set to go as the favourite in the event. India’s Hima Das , the World Junior Champion and Asian Games Silver medalist is also set to compete in the event.