13 CountriesTo Join Asian Games Trial

JAKARTA, Jan 16 (Antara) - Some 13 countries have confirmed their participation in the Athletic competition of the 2018 Asian Games trial at Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno (SUGBK) Senayan main stadium from Feb 10 to 18, an official stated here on Monday. "The technical delegations of Asian Athletic Association visited the SUGBK main stadium last year. The team has approved this stadium as one of the venues for the international athletic competition," the Asian Games trial manager, Dwi Priyono, informed Antara in Jakarta on Monday. The 13 contingents that have confirmed their attendances at the trial include China, Philippines, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand. On the other hands, six countries have confirmed their absence during the 2018 Asian Games athletic trial. These six countries include Bahrain, South Korea, Qatar, Singapore, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. Meanwhile, two countries, Kazakhstan and Maldives, have not yet given any confirmation on their attendances. Besides the SUGBK main stadium, the athletic trial will also be held at the Senayan middle stadium for exercises before the match. "We will launch and open the Senayan middle stadium before the trial in February. The stadium's main field and the tracks have been approved by the technical delegations of India and Hong Kong," Priyono, who also served as the Indonesian Athletics Federation (PB PASI) technical commission chairman, stated. For the trial, the athletic federation will deploy some 300 officers, both from central and regional commissioners. "Although there is an Asian indoor athletic competition in early Feb, the trial will be uninterrupted," he remarked. The 13 contingents have sent their athletes for the trials. "I believe these contingents will send their main athletes for adapting to the climate and for testing the new venue in Jakarta," he reiterated.