Susanthika in good form, looks confident - Pinnawala

Dinesh Weerawansa reporting from Japan

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Sri Lanka's ace woman sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe who arrived here behind her original schedule is due to have her first work out in Osaka tomorrow.

Secretary of the AASL, Prema Pinnawale said Jayasinghe arrived late after missing her flight from Osaka. "She is in good form and looks confident. We hope she will come out with her brilliant best," said Pinnawale.

Former Sri Lanka athlete Dhammika Nandakumara, who has now been appointed Team Leader cum coach, attended today's Technical Committee meeting, along with Team Manager Sunil Jayaweera. Nandakumara, who is here as Jayasinghe's coach, has now been appointed Team Leader due to a technical problem in obtaining accreditation.

AASL Secretary Pinnawale and President, Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando represented Sri Lanka at today's IAAF Congress sessions.

"The Member Federations of the IAAF recognize that the World Anti-Doping Code is under review and that International Federations will be expected to implement the provisions of the revised Code to be adopted at the World Conference on Anti-Doping in Madrid (ESP) in November 2007, the IAAF said in a statement after the final day of the 46th IAAF Congress concluded at the Osaka Grand Cube Conference Centre.

The IAAF Congress said they remain convinced that strong penalties are an important cornerstone of an effective anti-doping campaign in general, and in athletics in particular.

"Therefore, at this 2007 Congress, we unanimously reiterate in the strongest possible terms the position adopted at the 2005 Congress regarding 4 year penalties for the first-time serious doping infractions," the statement added.

The delegates from 210 of the 212 Member Federations of the IAAF who are here to attend the 46th IAAF Congress, were welcomed last night at the Official Dinner held at the Intex Exhibition Centre in the city.

President Lamine Diack made the official welcome on behalf of the IAAF, with addresses then delivered by the President of the Japanese Association of Athletic Federations, Yohei Kono and Yoshino Mori, the Supreme Advisor of the Osaka 2007 Local Organising Committee, who gave the official welcome from the LOC.

The award of the IAAF's highest honour, the Golden Order of Merit was made to three distinguished members of the global athletics family who have made enormous contributions to the success and the development of track and field - Hanji Aoki of Japan, Honorary Life Vice President and former Vice-President of the IAAF, Dr. Arne Lungqvist of Sweden, IAAF Senior Vice President, and Dapeng Lou of China, IAAF Vice President.

Athletic officials of South Asia had a separate meeting today to discuss the future of track and field in the region. Officials of the all South Asian nations except for Bangladesh, attended the meeting.

It was agreed to conduct the inaugural South Asian Junior Athletic Championship in Colombo on November 29 and 30. Meanwhile, the hosts Japan will field 45 men and 36 women for the World Championships here. The 81-member team is the strongest Japanese squad in the history of the World Championships, with the number of potential medalists higher than ever.

The host nation is tipped to win medals in throwing and jumping events as well as the marathon, which is considered traditionally the strongest event for Japan.

Reigning Olympic hammer throw champion, Koji Murofushi stands the best chance for a medal. He has already won a silver medal in 2001 and bronze medal in 2003, by winning a gold medal, Murofushi could complete a medal set, a first in the men's event.

Hurdler Dai Tamesue, who already has two bronze medals, from 2001 and 2005, too stands a medal chance for the hosts. In his pet event of 400m Hurdles, Tamesue is not the only athlete who has a realistic chance for a medal. Kenji Narisako, the reigning Asian Games champion, also has a chance for a medal in intermediate hurdles.

Two jumpers - Daichi Sawano, a pole vaulter, and Kumiko Ikeda, a long jumper - stand out on the team. Both athletes are national record holders, and if they jump close to their personal best range, they have a realistic chance for a medal. This year Sawano (a.k.a. Air Daichi) twice defeated American Brad Walker, the reigning silver medallist. Ikeda has her sights set on a seven metre leap. If successful, she can win a medal.

The best among the men's Marathon team are Toshinari Suwa, sixth in the Athens Olympics, and Tsuyoshi Ogata, third in the 2005 World Championships. Satoshi Osaki is from Osaka, and thus might receive largest applause from the large number of spectators who will line the streets of Osaka on Saturday morning (25).

The best among the women's marathon team are Reiko Tosa, silver medalist at the 2001 World Championships and Yumiko Hara, sixth in the 2005 World Championships.

Finally, expectation is high for the men's relay team. The men's 4x100m relay team has made the final in the last three World Championships, and finished as high as fourth in 2001.

OSAKA, Thursday.