On February 10, the 10th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships kicked off at the Qazaqstan sports complex in Astana, the press office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan reported.
Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov attended the opening ceremony of the continental championships. He read out the welcome message of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev for the participants and guests of the championships, in which the Kazakh leader expressed the hope that the current competitions would give a new impetus to promote athletics in Kazakhstan.
Alikhan Smailov wished the victory to the Kazakh athletics team and the successful performance at the championships to all the participants of the competition. The Prime Minister thanked Asian Athletics Association President Dahlan Al Hamad for providing assistance in organising and staging the championships in Astana.
The 10th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Astana will run from 10 to 12 February. Over 500 athletes from 31 Asian countries arrived in the capital of Kazakhstan to perform at the tournament. The Kazakhstan national team consists of 69 athletes.
Athletes will compete for medals in such sports as long jump, high jump, running, relay race, triple jump, pole vault, combine event and shot put.
