Fares Ibrahim
With many of their athletes already qualified, regional sports powerhouse Qatar are hoping to send a strong contingent for this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Qatar will go to the Japanese capital, boosted by its track and field stars like reigning high jump world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim – a two-time Olympic medallist, and expert hurdler Abderrahman Samba for the July 24 – August 9 event.
The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) is hoping more federations, which are involved in many ongoing qualifying competitions for Olympics, will join the bodies who have already won the quotas for sports biggest spectacle.
Qatar sent their biggest Olympic contingent for 2016 Rio Games when 34 athletes from six federations participated in the Brazilian city.
This year too, QOC is targeting a good number of Al Annabi athletes to represent the country in Olympics.
“Our athletics stars have already qualified apart from athletes in other disciplines. A lot of (qualifying) competitions are under way and many of our federations are taking part in these events. We are hoping to send a strong contingent to Tokyo,” Khaleel Al Jabir, Director of the QOC Sport Affairs, told The Peninsula in an interview.
“The qualifications to reach the Tokyo Olympics are tough. But Thank God, we already have our (track and field) athletes qualified. Our weightlifter (Fares Ibrahim) has also qualified and we have also confirmed places in equestrian and shooting.
“More of our federations are also going to compete in qualifying events in the coming months. We are also hoping to get berths for two of our swimmers for Olympics,” Al Jabir, who also heads the Qatar Swimming Association, said.
“We are looking to have more athletes but the number we already have are very strong and they are looking forward to getting good results in Tokyo,” he added.
Qatar handball team missed ticket to Tokyo after finishing third in a qualifying tournament in Doha last year as the event guaranteed place for only the winners.
“It was a tough competition and it was all about luck. We are happy with the handball team as they won the Asian Championships after an outstanding performance to qualify for World Championships,” said Al Jabir.
