Shaheen withdraws from Asian Games with injury

Athletics, the blue ribbon event of the Asian Games, suffered a big jolt when one of the star attractions and reigning world champion Saif Saeed Shaheen of Qatar withdrew with an Achilles tendon injury.

The injury deprived the steeplechase sensation the opportunity to win an expected golden double before his adoring fans on home soil.

Shaheen was expected to win his favoured event, the 3000m steeplechase, given the fact that he is the world champion and world record holder over the distance.

The 24-year-old was also favourite to take gold over 5000m but the nagging injury has failed to respond to intensive medical treatment in Kenya and Europe, leaving Shaheen with no choice but to withdraw.

''He just can't run,'' Shaheen's manager Ricky Simms said to confirm the news that have broken the hearts of thousands of his fans.

''There's no real decision to be made. He's limping when he's running. He's had problems with his Achilles on and off since the end of the track season. When athletes are competing at an elite level in the steeplechase there's always going to be the chance of injuries - it's the nature of the event,'' he added.

Shaheen had run somewhat sparingly this year, so determined was he to be fresh for the Asian Games said Simms, but despite Qatar Association of Athletic Federation arranging for the best medical treatment available, his dreams have now been shattered.

Instead, Shaheen, who became the first-ever to win both the 300m steeplechase and 5000m double at the 10th International Association of Athletics Federation World Cup in Athens, Greece back in September, will have to follow the event as an observer.

Mohamed Suleiman, manager of the Qatari athletics team, said, ''All the countries and all the people at the Games will be disappointed as he was going to win the gold medal. When you have an injury, what can you do?'' UNI HSB AY PM1928

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