DOHA: Athens Olympics gold medallist Justin Gatlin of America, his team-mate Shawn Crawford, Qatar's own champion Saif Saeed Shaheen and the women's long jump gold medal winner at Athens Games, Russia's Tatyana Lebedeva, will be the star attractions at Friday's IAAF Super Grand Prix meeting here.

There is a big feast in store for Qatar's athletics fans as 20 events
- 11 for men and nine for women - are scheduled for the Grand Prix meeting to be held at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium, starting from 5pm.

For the local fans there is something to cheer about as Qatar's world champion Saif Saeed Shaheen will be seen in action in a the 2000 metres steeplechase. Shaheen yesterday promised that he would go for a record in front of his home fans.

On the other hand, Gatlin said Doha was a lucky ground for him as he went on to win the Olympics gold last year, after starting his season in the Qatari capital. Gatlin, who opened his 2005 season by cruising to victory in the 100 metres at the Osaka Grand Prix in 10.15 seconds, said he wanted to win the World Championship race in Helsinki later this year.

"Last year I came here and took part in the Grand Prix as part of my preparations for the Athens Olympics. I went on to become the champion in Athens. I hope this year too I will be able to run a good race here and then I can win the gold in Helsinki (World Championships)," he said.
The star sprinter said his main rivals in Friday's race would his countryman Shawn Crawford and Jamaican Dwight Thomas.

"Of course I will be racing against my team-mate Shawn Crawford and Dwight Thomas. I think they will be my main rivals," he said.

Shaheen said since he had to train often in high-altitude centres he spent most of his time outside Qatar, but on Friday he wanted to give something back to his home country by setting a new record in his race.

"I expect a fast race. I am sure people will enjoy the race. I will certainly go for a new record," Shaheen said.
The field is very strong in most of the other events as well. The women's 200 metres race should be a straight fight between America's up and coming star Aliyson Felix and Jamaican Juliet Campbell while the women's long jump also promises to produce a keen tussle. Athens Games' gold medallist Tatyana Lebedeva of Russia will be pitted against former world champion Fiona May of Italy and last World Championship bronze medallist Anju Bobby George of India, who won the gold in Doha last year.

There is also a strong Kenyan and Ethiopian presence in the middle and long distance races, both in the men's and women's categories.
World junior cross-country champion Augustine Choge leads the Kenyan challenge in the 3000M race. Choge is one of the five Kenyan runners selected for the Doha meet after a superb performance in the Tusker International Permit Meeting last Saturday.

Choge won the 1,500M in the season's best time of 3:34.8. Other Kenyans runners in the fray include the winner of 3,000M, Isaac Songok and second-placed, David Chemweno and Alex Kipchirchir (1500M).
India's champion athelete Anju arrived here on Wednesday, accompanied by her husband and coach Bobby George.

Anju said the Doha meet would be her first competition in six months, but sounded confident when she added that she was trying to peak to her best in time for the World Championship in Helsinki later this year.
Anju, who became the only Indian to win a medal in the World Athletics Championship when she landed the bronze in Paris in 2003, said she wanted to break into the top three in the world rankings and also to win a medal again at the World Championships.

"It's going to be a long season for me. I'm planning to take part in around 20 international meets this season culminating with the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne next year," Anju said . "The Helsinki World Championship is the main focus," she added.

Bobby George, a former triple-jump champion himself, said: "She can do much better than 6.83 metres, which is her personal best in a competition (in Athens Games). She has crossed seven metres in training last year. She is going to cross seven metres a few times this year," added George.