Qatar steeplechase champion limps out of contention
Doha: Host nation Qatar has been robbed of an almost guaranteed Asian Games gold medal by an injury to Kenyan-born world champion steeplechaser Saif Saaeed Shaheen.
Formerly known as Stephen Cherono, the 3,000 metres world record holder controversially defected to Qatar in 2003 and was consequently barred from taking part at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
He has continued to set the pace in his favourite event, however, and was one of the few genuine world class athletes expected to compete in Doha before the Achilles injury struck.
"He just can't run," his manager Ricky Simms said on Thursday.
Taiwan upset South Korea
Doha: Defending champions South Korea have a mountain to climb after losing 4-2 to arch rivals Taiwan in the Asian Games baseball round robin on Thursday.
With LA Dodgers pitcher Kuo Hong Chi and his Dodgers teammate, shortstop Hu Chin Lung, among its ranks Taiwan proved they can be a serious gold medal contender here.
Korea will now need to beat Japan on Saturday and hope other results go in their favour if they are to win gold again.
"They are excellent pitchers. They have plenty of experience, including Major League," said Korean coach Jung Jin-ho of the Taiwanese.
Macau paddlers disqualified
Doha: Macau's women were disqualified from the table tennis team event for using illegal glue on their bats. They were found guilty of using "dangerous and high levels" of glue during routine testing of players' equipment, a Games official said.
"The level of aromatic solvent was 300 parts per million. Those are very dangerous," technical official Park Do Cheon said while announcing the quarter-final draw of the team event.
The glue is used to stick the rubber to the bat but high levels can also help increase the spin and alter the speed of the ball.
