Like a Championship’: Doha Primed to Stage Blockbuster Season Finale
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Sport FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2020 Olympics could take place without vaccine: Bach We have to work diligently and we have to work comprehen- sively, and then at the appropriate time take the right deci- sions. I’m sure that we will make... these Olympic Games, which will be historic in different respects, we will make it a success, and we will make it a success together. Thomas Bach Sport | 14 IOC President NBA: (EAST. CONF. FINALS) Game 4: Miami Heat 112, Boston Celtics 109 (Herro 37, Butler 24, Dragic 22) * Miami Heat lead series 3-1 ‘Like a Championship’: Doha primed to stage blockbuster season finale FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA I'm really grateful to have At a time when the world is battling had the opportunity to race the Covid-19 menace, bringing in Rome and Doha. I'd raced together 10 Olympic medallists from a few times in Jamaica but Rio 2016 Olympics and 17 medal winners from last year’s worlds the level and intensity of easily reaffirms Doha’s status as the competition wasn't the game's leading track and field host same. I was a little bit venue. surprised with my run in Today’s final Diamond League Rome because I hadn't raced meet of the year at the Qatar Sports for a few weeks, but I knew Club Stadium, featuring a field that I was capable of running is even rare in the World Champi- fast because I'd put in the onships, guarantees a memorable It’s going to be like a Championship race. I've trained well, and when I train is happy to take part in the Diamond finish to the troubled season that League this year. workwork::El: ElElaineaine well I have no doubts in a race. I've always enjoyed racing in Doha. In 2014, faced incredible challenges due to “I’m really grateful to have had ThomThompson-Herahpson-Herah the pandemic. I set my PB over 3000m (8:20.68), and last year I won the World the opportunity to race in Rome Doha, which is also hosting the Championships here. I like racing here because it's favourable to me: and Doha,” she said. “I had raced AFC Champions League football Kenya’s World 5000m champion Hellen Obiri a few times in Jamaica but the matches currently, lived up to expec- level and intensity of compe- tations to make the star-studded tition wasn’t the same. I was 12-event programme, a reality. The Thrilling action on the cards Another reigning World a little bit surprised with meet includes sprint hurdles and At a pre-event press conference Champion from Kenya, Timothy my run in Rome because 800m for both men and women; yesterday, the track and field stars Cheruiyot, who clinched the 1500m I hadn’t raced for a few 100m, 3000m and long jump for promised thrilling action for TV title at Doha 2019, will test his skills weeks, but I knew I was women; and 200m, 400m, 1500m audiences around the world. in the 800m race for the first time capable of running fast and pole vault for men. However, there will be no fans outside his country. because I’d put in the Strict health protocols have been allowed inside the Qatar SC “All of my other races at 800m work,” she said. implemented for the competition, Stadium, which has attracted huge have been in Kenya, so I’m excited On the field, Mondo which is the top priority for Doha, number of spectators in the past to do an 800m in the Diamond Duplantis - the Swedish also the host venue for the 2019 IAAF editions. League,” Cheruiyot said world record holder in the World Championships hailed as ‘the Kenya’s World 5000m champion yesterday. pole vault will be the centre best in history’ by World Athletics Hellen Obiri, who will compete in “This year has been different for of attraction with his duel President Sebastian Coe. 3000m race, sees the contest as the everyone. In all of my races in 2020, with reigning world “We were facing difficult circum- World Championships race. I’ve only been focused on running. champion Sam Kendricks being stances - just as the rest of the world “It’s going to be like a Champi- I feel blessed because I’ve been able dubbed a must-watch battle. was - with the coronavirus pandemic onship race. I've trained well, and to race. This will be my fourth race Also, world steeplechase but with the efforts of the Ministry when I train well I have no doubts of the year and then from here I’ll champion Beatrice Chepkoech, of Public Health (MOPH), the Qatar in a race,” she said before expressing be going to Nairobi for the Conti- world 5000m silver medallist Olympic Committee and the her love for the Qatari capital. nental Tour meeting,” he added. Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi, Diamond League Organising Com- “I've always enjoyed racing in world 10,000m bronze medallist mittee, we have put in place safety Doha,” she added. “In 2014, I set my Thompson-Herah ‘grateful’ Agnes Tirop and world 1500m measures to stop the spread of the PB over 3000m (8:20.68), and last for top-notch contest bronze medallist Gudaf Tsegay virus,” said Qatar Athletics Feder- year I won the World Champion- Jamaica’s double Olympic are among some of the other top Jamaica’s double ation (QAF) President Dr Thani Al ships here. I like racing here because champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, names set to compete in Doha Olympic champion Elaine Kuwari in build up to the event. it's favourable to me.” who won in Rome last week, said she today. Thompson-Herah Kendricks aims high in last round of ‘adventure’ year RIZWAN REHMAT melts away. Not that I don’t A: When I first started trav- THE PENINSULA care about the problems of the elling six weeks ago, I started world, but they don’t matter This has certainly been a with an event in Monaco. I was Two-time world pole when you’re standing there on strange year. We, as not even able to get my vault champion Sam the track. athletes, are just grateful equipment there. I could not Kendricks hasn’t let the “At that moment, it’s all because especially the even get a couple of poles from shortened track and field about how fast you can run or organisers, the event America. But because of Turkish season dampen his compet- how high you can jump,” Ken- managers have come Airlines and everybody in itive spirit. In fact, the dricks said. together and put together between stepped up, I got new 28-year-old is glad he is in Here’s what Kendricks had these fantastic events, equipment with me. I have got Doha for the season’s final to say at the press conference: especially the ones like this my best set. You can see my Diamond League meet to be (in Doha). The organisers hands and feet shaking (ges- held at Qatar Sports Club Q: How do you maintain have gone over and beyond tures with hand) and I believe Stadium today. your focus or compartmen- in what was expected of you as organisers have done “I’m just so grateful talize your thoughts during a them: Sam Kendricks your job to get the athletes because meeting organisers competition? excited. have gone above and beyond A: I am fortunate that I Sam Kendricks at a pre-event press conference in PIC: HUSSEIN SAYED to make sure competitions can don’t have to buy a ticket and Doha, yesterday. Q: Do you enjoy com- happen,” Kendricks said during watch the action. I count my peting in front of big crowds? a pre-event press conference blessings because I am right lining is I moved into my house of them. Some would say ‘don’t Will you be missing the fans in Doha yesterday. there in the middle, ready to that I have been trying to finish even try’. I have had directors this time around? “It’s (the shortened season) jump. One of my good friends for two years (smiles) and and agents calling and saying A: For me, this is the most been an adventure. We’ve all in high school, he was the goal- Rebecca is there laughing at me ‘is this even possible?’. It would exciting thing. Back in my just kind of rolled with it this keeper of the soccer team and as I have been telling her about not have been possible without hometown, I would invite my year and that’s been cool,” he he was a damn fine one. He this house for two years since I them. Now we come to the end friends and family to come and added with a smile on his face. watched most of the games in won in London. So I finally got of the year, it has been an watch me practice. And that is But the affable American his corner back in the field as to move in so family life is great adventure. It really has. It selfish because I get so much won’t be taken lightly in the he didn’t have to be every bit as back home but I got to get on makes my heart beat faster and reward when there’s so many pole vault competition that ready until the ball came his the road and do what I do. when I get up in the morning people watching.