Asian sprinters on track to make some big strides

As they jostle in the jet stream of Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin, Asian sprinters will be battling for regional bragging rights at the world athletics championships in Beijing.

Given the wide gulf in quality, just reaching the final of the 100 or 200 meters would be an astonishing achievement for an Asian runner.

While Jamaican giant Bolt, who holds the 100m world record of 9.58 seconds, is likely to be a speck in the distance, the tussle between China's Su Bingtian and Asian Games champion Femi Ogunode of Qatar should provide an absorbing continental subplot.