Qatar’s Men’s 4x400m Relay team consisting of Osman Ashraf, Abdalla Abubaker, Bassem Hemeida and Abderrahman Samba, celebrate on the podium with their bronze medals during the Asian Athletics Championships at the Khalifa International Stadium, yesterday.
Asian Games champion Ashraf Amjad El Seify clinched a silver medal while promising middle-distance runner Musaab Ali and a relay quartet won bronze medals for Qatar as Asian Athletics Championships concluded in Doha yesterday.
A total of 13 titles were decided on the hectic last day of the biennial competition, which saw a good number of spectators turning out at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Qatar wrapped up their campaign with 2 gold medals, a silver and 3 bronze medals.
Bahrain, powered by their middle and long distance runners prevailed over China in gold medals race, winning four more events yesterday to take their tally to 11 gold medals. China (9) and Japan (5) won three gold medals each on the final day.
El Seify, Musaab win medals for Qatar
El Seify got the silver medal after he cleared the distance of 73.76 in men’s hammer throw final, which was won by Tajikistan star Dilshod Nazarov, who recorded his season’s best distance of 76.14 to win a gold medal.
El Seify, however, set a big target for him this season after missing a gold.
“It took me some time to find rhythm because it was cold today but it happens with the hammer throwers. I want to throw 80m this season,” said El Seify.
Uzbekistan’s Sukhrob Hodjayev (72.85) won bronze while Qatar’s Ahmed El Sify finished 9th with a throw of 65.08.
Qatar bagged bronze medal in men’s 1,500m after Musaab took third position, following a photo finish with India’s Ajay Kumar Saroj. Both finished with a time of 3:43.18 and judges had to take some time to decide over the duo’s fate. Bahrain’s Abraham Kipchirchir won the race with a time of 3:42.85.
“Overall I am content, I know I can run fast starting from the Diamond League here in Doha. My goal for the season is to get ready for the World Championships,” said Musaab.
The third medal for Qatar came in men’s 4x400m with the quartet comprising Osman Ashraf, Abdalla Abubaker, Bassem Hemeida and Abderrahman Samba anchoring them to bronze.
Initially, Qatar finished fourth in the race with a time of 3.03.95 but the home side was later handed the bronze medal after second-placed India were disqualified for obstruction. Japan and China won the gold and silver medals in the event respectively.
Meanwhile, star Qatari sprinter Femi Ogunode suffered heartbreak when he fell midway during the men’s 200m final due to recurrence of a left hamstring injury, he suffered during the semi-finals. The 200m title went to Xie Zhenya, who clocked 20.33 to win gold for China.
More Championships Records fall on final day
Earlier, Xie Wenjun won the first gold medal of the last day for China by winning the men’s 110m hurdles final. The 28-year-old did that in style, clocking an astonishing 13.21, to mark a new Championship Record and a World Leading time.
“I am so excited. I was in great shape and the track of this wonderful stadium helped me beat the Championships record,” said a delighted Wenjun after his record.
China also clinched a gold medal in women’s discus throw, with Bin Feng sealing the title with a throw of 65.36 to set a new Championship Record. They also got silver through Chen Yang (61.87) while Thai star Subenrat Insaeng (58.20) won the bronze medal.
Another Championship Record fell yesterday when Bahrain’s Salwa Naser ran to women’s 200m gold in 22.74, beating Susanthika Jayasinghe’s (SRI) record of 22.84 she set in 2002.
Kazakhstan’s Olga Safronova, who won a gold and a silver medal in Doha, claimed another silver with a time of 22.87 while Indian sprinter Dutee Chand (23.24) grabbed bronze in the hotly-contested 200m race.
Salwa, later teamed up in women’s 4x400 relay to help Bahrain win another gold medal. It was the 4th medal for the Bahraini athlete in Doha.
The GCC country also received a gold and a silver medal in men’s 5,000 race with Birhanu Balew (13.37.42) and Albert Rop (13.37.57) dominating the long-distance event. Japan’s Hiroki Matsueda (13.45.44) took bronze while Qatar’s Yaser Bagharab (13:56.30) finished 7th in the race.
Ghazal shines for Syria
Majedddin Ghazal won men’s high jump final with a World Leading leap of 2.31 to win first gold medal for Syria.
“It’s strange that after competing in so many Asian Championships this is only my first gold medal,” said the Syrian. “Now I will prepare for the Diamond League,” he said.
Japan’s Takashi Eto and Naoto Tobe secured silver and bronze medal in the event. Qatar’s Mahmat Hamdi was also impressive with a jump of 2.19, finishing 7th.
Elsewhere, Japan’s Ayako Kimura won women’s 100m hurdles gold with a time of 13.13. Chen Jiamin (China) and Masumi Aoki (Japan) completed the podium finish with times of 13.24 and 13.28.
“It’s my second Asian title, six years after my first one. My coach helped me built my form again. Now I want to break the 13-sec barrier at the World Championships in Doha,” said Kimura.
Yuki Hashioka gave Japan their second gold medal on the last day as he reigned supreme in men’s long jump final, prevailing over Chinese duo of Zhang Yaoguang and Huang Changzhou.
India also won a gold medal yesterday when Chitra Palakeezhunnikirshnan (4:14.56) prevailed over Bahrain’s Gashaw Tigest (4:14.81) and Winfred Yavi (4:16.18) in women’s 15,00m final.
“After losing to Bahrainis in Asian Games, I got my revenge today. I am happy I made it and defended my 2017 title,” said Chitra.
