20 January 2004	Tuesday	27 Ziqa'ad 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: Pakistani athletes, preparing for the 9th SAF Games, will compete in three international track-and-field events next month. Muhammad Naseer will be the country's lone representative at the Hong Kong Open marathon to be held on Feb 8.

Naseer boasts a Pakistan record of 2hrs:14min in the marathon and is being tipped as the potential medallist in the regional SAF (South Asian Federation) Games.

Pakistan's five boys and a girl will compete in the Asian Indoor Track and Field Championship to be held in Iran from Feb 6 to 8. The Pakistani athletes to compete in the championship are:Afzal Baig (100-200m), Sajid (400m), Muhammad Shah (60m hurdles), Inam (800m), Naushad (3,000m) and probably Zeenat Yasmeen, according to officials. Pakistani squad for the Asian Junior athletics championship in Bangladesh (Feb 12-13) is yet to be finalized.-APP