ISLAMABAD, Sept 1: The national camp has moved into top gear here at Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex, to prepare the selected athletes for the Asian meet later this month.

Seven athletes, including a standby girl, are training hard, no matter if the heat is intense, for the 15th Asian (senior) Athletics Championship to be held at Manila (Philippines) from Sept 20 to 23.

They are seen at the sprawling stadium — the runners at tartan track and throwers and jumpers at the lush-green ground — morning, noon and even at night, going through the motions of the training under the watchful eye of the Manila-bound Manager-cum-Coach, Chaudhary Muhammad Siddique.

Siddique will be the only official on the trip.The selection committee of the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF) picked four male and two female athletes for the Asian meet.

The males on the squad are: Atta Miran of Pakistan Army (1500 metres), Nadeem Ahmed Khan of Wapda (hammer), Irshad Fazal of Wapda (800 metres) and Waseem Khan of Pakistan Army (long jump/triple jump).

The ladies selected for the event are: Zeenat Perveen who will compete in shot put and Gulnaz Ara who will make her appearance in 800 metres.

Both the female athletes are from Wapda. A third female athlete from Wapda, Shabana Kausar, has been selected as standby. Her forte is javelin throw.

Pakistan’s squad will leave for Manila on Sept 17.—APP