Qatari athletes eye success at Doha Diamond League
Published: 30 Apr 2019 - 07:54 am | Last Updated: 28 Dec 2021 - 11:39 am
Qatari duo Abubaker Hayder Abdalla (left) and Jamal Haraine during a press conference.
Newly-crowned Asian champion Abubaker Hayder Abdalla is hoping for another successful run this weekend as Qatari athletes gear up for the season-opening meet of IAAF Diamond League in Doha on May 3.
Hosts Qatar will field a total of 11 athletes, with Abdalla being their main hope to shine at the iconic Khalifa International Stadium in absence of star 400m hurdler Abderrahman Samba and double Olympic medalist high jumper Mutaz Barshim. The inaugural leg will not feature the events of the top Qatari duo.
With leading Qatari sprinter Abdalelah Haroun also set to miss the Friday’s competition due to injury, Abdalla will spearhead the home team’s campaign in the event. The 22-year-old won a gold medal for Qatar at the Asian Athletics Championships last week, and is looking forward to repeat his performance.
“I set the world lead during the victory (last week, and I will look to maintain that lead, and probably breaking the (1:44) barrier,” Abdalla said while speaking to reporters at a press conference held at Qatar Olympic Committee headquarters, yesterday.
He said there was not much pressure of expectations on him in absence of the trio.
“I am not feeling any pressure as in athletics you will have to compete and have fun. I will try to do my best. I will try to win as back-to-back victories within few days will be great,” said the Qatari runner, who won bronze in last year’s Asian Games and a gold medal at 2018 Asian Indoor Championships.
Asked about his feelings after winning a gold medal last week, Abdalla said: “It was a great feeling to win the gold medal. Being here in the home town, winning the event with a personal best and world lead was great. It was a proud moment to raise the Qatari flag,” said the athlete
Another Qatari middle-distance runner, Jamal Haraine, who won bronze medal in the same 800m race last week is also hoping to excel in the upcoming competition.
“I recorded my best time last week and now I am targeting 1:45s in the Diamond League. I am confident of doing that,” said Haraine.
Mubarak Rabi and Abdulrahman Hassan will also participate in 800m race while in Haroun’s absence, Jaber Al Mamari and Owab Ba will take part in 200m. Hamza Driouch, Musab Adam and Muhanad Khamis will feature in the 1,500m race while Yasser Bagharab and Moaz Ibrahim will look for a positive start to the season in 3,000m steeplechase and discus throw competitions.
Meanwhile, Qatar Athletics Federation Secretary-General Mohamed Eisa Al Fadhala said preparations have been made to host another successful event.
“We are ready to stage the Diamond League,” Al Fadhala told the press conference.
“The Asian Athletics Championships was a success and we look forward to stage another major event before the IAAF World Championships later this year,” he added.
Abdullah Almarri, Doha Diamond League (DDL) Head of marketing, and DDL Head of Media and Broadcasting, Abdulhadi Alsahli also attended the press conference.
This year DDL has its 10th anniversary and the organisers are looking forward to celebrating this milestone with another night of world class athletics.
The IAAF Diamond League came into being in 2010 and the first ever Diamond League meeting took place at the Qatar Sports Club on May 14 . The DSL has traditionally raised the curtain on the IAAF Diamond League series and it has been a source of immense pride to the organisers that so many global champions choose to open their outdoor seasons in the Qatari capital each year.
