Gifu Prefecture in central Japan is ready to welcome almost 1000 orienteers from all over Asia to compete in the second Asian Orienteering Championships this weekend. The races will be exciting in both elite classes: China is sending to Japan Mingyue Zhu, Shuangyan Hao and Ji Li, the women’s relay team that finished 7th in the World Championships in 2008. Chinese men’s team includes Xue Kezhan and Li Xiang, who got the first Asian title in relay two years ago in Korea. The host federation, Japan, also has a strong team, headed by the reigning national champions Hiroyuki Kato and Yoko Bamba.

All in all nine countries send competitors to fight for the Asian titles. The competitions begin with sprint on Saturday, and continue on middle distance on Sunday. Long distance and relay take place in the beginning of next week. The events are partly held in the same terrain as the World Orienteering Championships in 2005.

For more information on the events, please visit the organisers’ homepage.