Cream of athletes for Credit Meet in Dubai

Dubai: Around 40 top athletes from 12 different countries, including the UAE will attempt qualifying to this summer's London Olympics at the Asian Athletic Federation (AAF) Permit Meeting to be held at the Dubai Police Officers Club in Al Garhoud this Friday (April 27).

The AAF-sanctioned meeting has drawn a host of top-level athletes and medal hopefuls in four different events - the 1,500 metres run for men and women, the 800 metres for men and the 5,000 metres for women.

Competition will get under way at 6.30 pm tomorrow (Friday) with the UAE looking forward optimistically to qualifying at least three of its runners at the London Olympics.

The details of the Permit Meeting were announced at a press conference conducted by Saad Al Muhairi, General Secretary, UAE Athletic Federation (UAEAF) in the presence of Abdul Mohsin Al Dossary, Assistant General Secretary, General Secretary of Youth and Sports Welfare at the UAE National Olympic Committee premises here yesterday.

Alia Saeed Mohammad is the reigning women's Arab champion in the 5,000 metres with a personal best of 15 minutes, 31 seconds. But she has shown tremendous improvement with a capacity to even clock a sub-15 minute time and make it to London.

Then there is her teammate Bethlehem Desalegn Belayneh who has a personal best of 15:36 in the same event, but is fast enough to improve following her silver medal effort at the Asian Indoor Games held in China earlier this year.

While the two UAE runners are tipped to be somewhere at the top of the pack, there are challengers who can really force out a fast time led by Meryem Erdogan, the 2010 European Under-23 cross champion from Turkey, former world junior champion Veronica Nyaruai Wanjiru of Kenya and Tiblet Diriba Hayu of Ethiopia, a dual champion earlier this year.

The men's 800 metres has a true mix of athletes from across the world including the UK, Egypt, Algeria, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Turkey and Oman. But it will be Bahrain's Bilal Mansour, a former World Youth Champion and finalist at the World Championships, and with his best time of 1:44 minutes, who is being tipped the hot favourite to qualify and make it through to London.

The men's 1,500 metres too is bound to be an engrossing event with athletes from Ethiopia, Algeria, Sweden, Kenya, Sudan and Oman in the fray, while the women's 1,500 metres will see Greek runner Koini Athina challenging a trio of runners from Ethiopia, namely Alem Gebre Egzabaer, Alem Embaye Abraha and Hilda Chepkwemoi.

"These athletes are all coming here to qualify to an Olympic Games, and since it is only the start of the season, one can expect some quick timings," predicted Larry Barthlow, Technical Manager at the UAE Athletics Federation (UAEAF).

"The UAE is in a position to accept an invitation each for the men and women, but we are hopeful our athletes make it directly to London with the qualifying times needed," he added.