Flawless Barshim soars into final

As ever, Mutaz Essa Barshim looked focused and confident.

The Qatari superstar yesterday showed no signs of pressure as he eased into the men’s high jump final, raising hopes of a gold medal for the hosts at the IAAF World Championships Doha 2019.

At the pumping Khalifa International Stadium, the Qatari hero looked flawless, leaving the ordeal of months behind him, to leap into Friday’s final.

Barely seen in action in the last 18 months due to an ankle injury, Barshim, who is defending his London Worlds crown at home, gave a glimpse of his golden form of 2017 as he effortlessly marked his season’s best jump of 2.29m.

“I am happy with the start, no complaints. Hopefully I can come back on Friday and do my best,” said Barshim.

The 2017 IAAF Athlete-of-the-Year said he remains favourite to win the title.

“The build-up doesn’t really matter. I’m here. I’m always the favourite. It doesn’t matter where I compete,” said Barshim.

Backed by the cheering home spectators, Barshim’s performance was perfect yesterday as he did not knock down the bar a single time, while jumping to 2.17m, 2.22m and 2.27m barriers with big gaps, before leaping to his season’s best.

The Qatari superstar said he was not targeting any height for the final.

“It’s the world championships. It’s about medals. I don’t care if I jump 2.50 or 2.10, I just want to go out there and hope for gold.

“It is really great to jump in front of the home crowd when you have your family, wife in the stands and it was very important for me, I just want to do this for them,” he added.

World leader Maksim Nedasekau of Belarus, Russia’s ‘neutral athletes’ Ilya Ivanyuk and Mikhail Akimenko also cruised into the final.

Qatar’s Asian Games hero El Seify sails into final

In another breakthrough for the hosts, Ashraf Amgad El Seify, who clinched gold medal at the last year’s Asian Games, hurled his season best mark of 76.22 to enter the men’s hammer throw final.

The qualifying for the event yesterday was dominated by Polish stars as three-time world champion Oawel Fajdek finished on top with a throw of 79.24 while his team-mate Wojciech Nowicki (77.89) had the second best mark.

“Everything is very good at these championships in Doha. I must confirm that the ring is a good one and we can expect some very good throw in the final,” said Fajdek.

The hammer throw final is scheduled today.

‘Proud’ Mariam clocks personal best time

Competing in the women’s 400m hurdles in hijab, Mariam Farid - ambassador for the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 - recorded her personal best of 1:09.49, with America’s Sydney Mclaughlin topping the heats with a time of 54.45.

“I am very proud, it’s a dream come true,” Farid was delighted as she bowed out of the event.

“On the track, I wanted to cry, it was just so beautiful. I am very happy to improve my new national record by 2 seconds.

“This is the first World Championships for the Middle East and it was great to perform in front of my friends and family,” she added.

America’s world record holder Dalilah Muhammad also qualified for the semi-final of women’s 400m hurdles after clocking 54.87.

Haroun fails to advance in men’s 400m

Qatari sprinter Abdalelah Haroun, coming back from a surgery, clocked the season best time of 47.76 in the men’s 400m heats but failed to advance to the semi-final.

“I had surgery six months ago, but I competed at home. This is sports. Thanks God for allowing me to compete here. We can expect good performances from Qatari athletes. Hopefully, I will be fully fit for Tokyo Games,” he said.

Grenada’s former world and Olympic champion, Kirani James topped the head in 44.94 while Diamond League champion Michael Norman of USA (45.00) and Jamaica’s Demish Gaye (45.02) clocked the next two fastest times.

Another home athlete, Yaser Salem Bagharab featuring in the men’s 3,000 steeplechase, finished the race in 8:39.65, failing to enter the final.