DOHA, Dec 2: The Asian Games athletics programme is in danger of being doomed to a series of starless nights after the withdrawals of two-time world champion Saif Saaeed Shaheen and Olympic champion Koji Murofushi.

As a result, organisers will be praying that the two remaining world class athletes, China's 110 metres hurdles Olympic and world champion Liu Xiang and Bahrain's dual Moroccan-born world champion Rashid Ramzi, stay in the Games.

The signs from Liu weren't good a few weeks ago when the 23-year-old was reported to be lacking the motivation to take part.

He was quickly taken to task by his coach Sun Haiping.

“It's the end of the season but we still have to work hard,” said Sun.

“If I have to I will make Liu Xiang train until his head spins.

Shaheen, the Kenyan-born 3000 metres steeplechase world record holder, was under greater pressure to take part given Qatar's huge investment in him four years ago.

“He just can't run,” said his manager Ricky Simms on Thursday.

“There's no real decision to be made. He's limping when he's running.

“He actually didn't race much this year, he made a real point of being fresh for the Asian Games.”Murofushi, whose father won five hammer throw Asian titles, clearly wanted to compete but the Japanese hammer star was persuaded by his federation that his right calf injury was not healed enough to risk going for a third successive crown.

Ramzi remains an enigma and while the 800m and 1500m world champion now has an obligation to Bahrain, his recent comments hardly inspire confidence in his will to run his heart out for his adopted country.

“My heart is still Moroccan,” he said.

The organisers will be hoping his heart is temporarily set on Asian Games glory otherwise the danger of empty seats could have longer reaching consequences for the country's hopes of hosting the 2016 Olympics.—AFP