Axed Singaporean shot-putters plead for clemency

SINGAPORE, Oct 16 (Reuters) Devastated shot-putters Zhang Guirong and Du Xianhui are pleading for clemency after being axed from Singapore's Asian Games team.

The pair were dropped from the squad on Friday after failing to provide accurate addresses of their residence in China -- where they have been training since July.

The sport's world governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), needed the addresses to facilitate random out-of-competition testing and both women had been warned several times to supply the information.

The Singapore Athletic Association's (SAA) patience finally snapped and the pair have been axed.

''We have been talking to each other over the phone since the news broke and we don't know what to do now,'' a tearful Zhang told Singapore's Today newspaper today.

''We've no mood to do anything, we can't eat or sleep. We don't even know if we should continue training.

''Everything seems meaningless now. It's very painful and it feels like we're facing a firing squad,'' the 28-year-old added.

The pair have appealed to the SAA.

Since July, 24-year-old Du has been based at the Beijing Sports University, while Zhang has been training at the Shenyang Sports School.

Zhang, ranked one place ahead of Du at fourth in Asia, added: ''We did not deliberately do this as we didn't fully understand the requirements and implications.

''But it was our mistake and we hope the SAA will forgive us and let us compete at the Asian Games. We only want to represent Singapore and do well for the country.'' The Asian Games take place in Doha from December 1-15.

REUTERS PDS RAI1006