By Oliver Grassman

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Aug 8 (Reuters) Portuguese Francis Obikwelu will be hoping to complete the first step in his bid for a sprint double at the European championships when the men's 100 metres is decided today.

Obikwelu, the fastest European this year, is aiming to become the first man to win the 100 and 200 at the championships since Italy's Pietro Mennea in 1978.

The Portuguese and his most likely rival Frenchman Ronald Pognon completed their heats with ease yesterday despite the event being marred by false starts.

So far four of the six heats in the opening round and two of the four second round heats have had false starts.

''It has been a problem from the beginning. Since I have been running at the age of ten I have never seen anything like this,'' said Obikwelu, who won both of his heats.

''We can only wait there for the gun. The reaction is getting slower and slower.

Obikwelu won his second heat in 10.28 seconds, 0.09 ahead of Slovenian Matic Osovnikar in second with Belgian Erik Wijmeersch third on 10.49.

IN CONTROL The Portuguese looked firmly in control of the race despite slowing down over the last 20 metres.

Pognon, the only Frenchman ever to run 100 metres in under 10 seconds, produced the best time of the second round heats when he won in 10.19 seconds.

Briton Dwain Chambers, another favourite going into the semi-finals before the final later today, only just scraped through by finishing fourth in his second round heat.

In the heptathlon home favourite Carolina Kluft looks set to cruise to a second consecutive European title as her biggest threat Eunice Barber of France pulled out with a thigh injury after two events yesterday.

After four of the two-day combined event's seven disciplines the Swede tops the standings on 3,990 points with Kelly Sotherton 124 points back and another Briton Jessica Ennis a further five behind.

Today, world and Olympic champion Kluft competes in the long jump, the javelin and 800 metres in her bid for gold.

The men s long jump, 20 km walk and 10,000 metres will also be decided today.

World champion Kajsa Bergqvist, another Swede, begins the defence of her European title in the women's high jump qualifying round.

REUTERS DH BS0804