It has finally dawned on the mandarins of the Asian Amateur Athletic Association (AAAA) to give their athletes monetary incentives. Even though a comparatively moderate field will be there for Saturday’s inaugural Asian Grand Prix meet at the newly constructed GMC Balayogi stadium, 15 km from the city, what is noticeable and appreciable is that a beginning has been made, however belatedly. A 16-event card has been scheduled for tomorrow. The Chinese, the Asian powerhouse, have come with a eight-member contingent, with no big names, though. Confided an Indian coach, ‘‘They would not send them to such meets.’’However, the creme de la creme would be the 400 metres event where the powerful Sri Lankan KV Damayanthi Darsha could face a tough race from India’s K Beenamol and Tatyana Borisova (Kzg). The other big Sri Lankan name Sushantika preferred to skip the Asian GP meet.
