Sports Wednesday, Wednesday 18, 2019 15 I’ve tried to make the 400m hurdles something exceptional, says Samba

 Third Fastest 400m Hurdler of All Time  Continental Cup Champion  Asian Champion  Champion

IAAF/TNN jig, he says, “The first time I celebrated was after the ATAR’S sensational meeting. I Qtrack and field athlete My time (46.98) is very ran, saw the clock, and I saw Abderrahman Samba, who good but I don’t consider it a new personal best, it meant The first time I has set the world’s quickest enough, especially at the something very joyous to me. I celebrated was after time in 400m hurdles since moment because several remember there was a dance, the Doha Diamond 1992, and won the 400m athletes are getting close the young people were all do- hurdles and 4x400m ing it, as it was a fashion at League meeting. I ran, relay gold at the Ja- to the world record. My that time. So, I started this saw the clock, and I karta Asian Games goal may be bigger than dance immediately, and then I saw a new personal has set sights on the the world record. I’ve tried started to dance a new one in best, it meant IAAF World Ath- to make the 400m hurdles each meeting.” something very joyous letics Champion- something exceptional. He also recalled his unfor- ships Doha 2019. tunate fall at the 2017 World to me. I remember In the latest – Abderrahman Samba Championships in there was a dance, the episode of IAAF and the motivation which saw young people were all Inside Athletics, him spring back to best again. doing it, as it was a Samba spoke “Looking back to the 2017 fashion at that time. about his ex- World Championships where citement I hit a hurdle and tripped, I So, I started this dance ahead of was very disappointed after immediately, and then I Doha 2019. “Mutaz (Barshim, the the race, especially because started to dance a new “I don’t world high jump champion) is my coach, the managing staff one in each meeting. feel pres- a great champion and we have and the president of the fed- sure because learned a lot from him. I con- eration were all present. But it will be my sider him as a role model in these people are the corner- home,” said athletics and I try to follow his stones that enabled me to secret of my change,” he added. good but I don’t consider Samba, who last year set example. Hopefully one day I come back stronger than be- Samba says that his it enough, especially at the an Asian 400m hurdles re- will be a champion like him. fore and with more motiva- dreams are bigger than just moment because several cord of 46.98. “He always gives us tips tion to be the best. winning the gold or a world athletes are getting close The 24-year-old athlete about how to enter the Dia- “I’ve had so much support record. “I have to remember to the world record. My stressed that he aims to be mond League and how to en- since then, it has given me a big that the World Champion- goal may be bigger than a champion like compatriot ter the competitions.” boost in morale. That I must ships was just a setback and I the world record. I’ve tried and high jump star Mutaz On his celebrations after come back and prove my exist- must learn from it. to make the 400m hurdles Essa Barshim. wins by doing the Samba dance ence, and this exactly was the “My time (46.98) is very something exceptional.” QNB and TDK to offer $100,000 prize to athletes who break world records galaxy of stars will de- QNB, which joined the Prize-Money most recent recipients of a A scend on the Khalifa world record award. International Stadium on IAAF as a partner last Aside from the world record programme, a RELAYS (PER TEAM) TDK’s involvement with September 27 for 10 days year, will offer the same total of US$ 7,530,000 in prize money will Gold: US$ 80,000; Silver: US$ 40,000; the IAAF World Champion- of scintillating action at the generous sponsorship be paid* by the IAAF in Doha as follows: Bronze: US$ 20,000; 4th place: US$ ships goes far beyond the IAAF Cham- 16,000; 5th place: US$ 12,000; world record programme pionships Doha 2019, where package for women’s INDIVIDUAL EVENTS 6th place: US$ 8000; 7th place: US$ as the Japanese electronics the IAAF will once again run events at the IAAF World Gold: US$ 60,000; Silver: US$ 30,000; 6000; 8th place: US$ 4000 company has been the main its world record programme. Championships. Bronze: US$ 20,000; 4th place: US$ bib sponsor for men’s events Athletes who set a 15,000; 5th place: US$ 10,000; * The payment of prize money and for all 16 previous editions world record will be eli- 6th place: US$ 6000; 7th place: US$ bonuses is dependent upon the usual and will maintain that in- gible* for a special award which equal the existing 5000; 8th place: US$ 4000 ratification process. volvement in Doha. of US$100,000 offered by IAAF world record will not QNB, which joined the TDK and Qatar National be eligible for a world record IAAF as a partner last year, Bank (QNB). The perfor- award. 50km race walk at the World the decathlon world record will offer the same gener- mance must be an improve- Portugal’s Ines Henr- Championships in London in Beijing in 2015 and will be ous sponsorship package for ment on the existing IAAF iques, who set a world record two years ago, and USA’s one of the IAAF’s Ambassa- US decathlete Ashton Eaton with his world record bonus at the IAAF women’s events at the IAAF world record. Performances of 4:05:56 in the women’s Ashton Eaton, who broke dors in Doha, are two of the World Championships Beijing 2015. World Championships. (IAAF)

Chaudhry, Munaweera spark QATAR BEAT OMAN 3-0 IN ASIAN VOLLEYBALL Qatar delivered a competent performance and outclassed Qatar to fine 19-run victory Oman 25-18, 25-20, 25-16 during a Pool G classification TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Malik for 67, which included match in the Asian Men’s DOHA 13 fours. Volleyball Championship in David and Manpreet Sin- , Iran on Tuesday. Al IQBAL Hussain Chaudhry gh mustered 88 runs for the Annabai will next play against turned in an inspiring all- fourth . And just Sin- Kazakhstan on Wednesday round display in his first gapore appeared to be return- before the 9-12 match as a and steered ing into the match, Chaudhry positions playoffs begin. Qatar to a splendid 19-run came up with a crucial break- victory against Singapore in through and sent back David the ICC World Cup Qatar skipper Iqbal Hussain for 75 with six fours. Soon, Challenge League Group A in Chaudhry receives the man of Qatar tightened screws further Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the match award in Kuala Lum- and helped their team win the Tuesday. pur, Malaysia on Tuesday. match, taking the remaining Batting first after winning for only 13 runs. the toss, Qatar put up 232 for 200-mark. Amjad Mahboob eight with opener Zaheerud- (three for 42), U Aryaman BRIEF SCORES deen Ibrahim cracking 63, Sunil (two for 61) and Anantha Qatar beat Singapore by 19 runs Khurram Shahzad getting 44 Krishna (two for 30) were the Qatar: 232 for eight in 50 overs and Chaudhry contributing main bowlers. (Zaheeruddeen Ibrahim 63, Saqlain Arshad 23 . In reply, Singapore Qatar struck a blow off 21, Qalandar Khan 29, Mohammed Rizlan were bowled out at 213 in 48.2 the very first ball in the Sin- 31, Khurram Shahzad 44, Iqbal Hussain overs as Gayan Munaweera gapore chase as Munaweera Chaudhry 23 not out, Amjad Mahboob 3/42, grabbed an impressive five had Arjun Mutreja caught by U Aryaman Sunil 2/61, Anantha Krishna for 39 and Chaudhry snapped keeper Mohammed Rizlan. 2/30) four wickets for 50. The bowler sent back the other Singapore: 213 all out in 48.2 overs Qatar, Canada and hosts opener Rohan Rangarajan as (Surendra Chandramohan 67, Tim David 75, Malaysia are unbeaten after well after 32 runs. Surendra Manpreet Singh 40, Gayan Munaweera India want Pant to show discipline their first match and Canada Chandramohan and Tim Da- 5/39, Iqbal Hussain Chaudhry 4/50) lead the six-team table on vid helped Singapore recover Man of the match: Iqbal Hussain Chaudhry REUTERS doubt about that,” Rathour told reporters South Africa next month, when limited- their best net run-rate (NRR). through a 78-run stand, which (Qatar) MOHALI in Mohali ahead of the second overs stalwart Rohit Sharma may rein- Qatar are in the third spot af- was broken by Mohammed Wednesday’s fixtures International against South Africa on vent himself as a Test opener. ter Malaysia, while Singapore, Nadeem. Chandramohan was Malaysia vs Canada INDIA’S newly-appointed batting coach Wednesday. Rohit smashed a record five centuries Denmark and Vanuatu are the caught by Mohammed Awais Singapore vs Denmark Vikram Rathour has joined head coach “Of course he needs to sort out his at this year’s 50-overs World Cup, but the teams to have suffered defeats. Ravi Shastri in demanding more disci- game plan a little more. He needs to bring white-ball stalwart has managed only 27 Ibrahim, who smashed 63 pline from exciting stumper-batsman in a little bit of discipline to his cricket.” sporadic Test appearances. off 92 balls with eight fours, Rishabh Pant. With next year’s Twenty20 World Cup Rathour said 32-year-old Rohit has ensured Qatar had a steady Pant’s six-hitting ability makes him a in mind, Rathour extended the message the game to succeed across formats, which start. With Saqlain Arshad (21 limited-overs asset, but Shastri in a recent to all young members of the side that fear- would be a massive boost for the side. with two sixes and a four) and interview said the 21-year-old’s penchant less cricket did not mean reckless cricket. “He has done so well as an opener in Qalandar Khan (29 with a six for throwing away his wicket has occa- “What the team management is ask- white ball cricket, so I don’t see any rea- and two fours), he put up 53 sionally let the team down. ing from them is fearless cricket - having son why he can’t do well in red ball cricket runs for the first wicket and 61 The Delhi player is perceived as Ma- clear game plans and playing with intent, as well, provided we provide him enough runs for the second wicket. hendra Singh Dhoni’s natural successor backing your strengths. At the same time, opportunities,” Rathour said. After a mini collapse in limited-overs cricket when the former you cannot be careless,” the former India “If he comes good, it will be a huge as- which saw Qatar five down captain eventually hangs up his gloves, opener said. set for the team. Somebody of his experi- for 129, Chaudhry and Khur- but Rathour insisted Pant must improve “I’m sure they are smart enough to un- ence, the kind of cricket he plays - if he ram Shahzad collected 66 runs his shot selection. derstand that.” plays at the top of the order, it will be a and took the team closer to the The Qatar team celebrates its victory against Singapore on Tuesday. “Rishabh is a phenomenal player, no India will also play three Tests against huge thing.”