Home Delight As Barshim and Samba Pick up Dazzling Wins
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MMOTOGPOTOGP | Page 3 NNBABA | Page 4 Marquez James, Cavs bidding to take shred Raptors; championship Celtics rally to lead at home down Sixers Saturday, May 5, 2018 FOOTBALL Sha’baan 19, 1439 AH Steven Gerrard GULF TIMES unveiled as new Rangers boss SPORT Page 6 ATHLETICS / DOHA DIAMOND LEAGUE Home delight as Barshim and Samba pick up dazzling wins Haroun second in men’s 400m; Rohler leads German sweep in men’s javelin; Semenya, Morris, Lyles register victories By Mikhil Bhat Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim Doha celebrates his win in the men’s high jump event at the Doha Diamond League ocal heroes Mutaz Barshim and yesterday. PICTURES: Abderrahman Samba lit up the Noushad Thekkayil Qatar Sports Club stadium with their scintillating performances Lduring the Diamond League season- opening meet in Doha yesterday after Abdalellah Haroun had begun the day for the hosts with an impressive run- ner-up fi nish. With his family in the audience at the packed venue, Barshim, reigning world champion and IAAF Athlete of the Year, had bagged the win at 2.36m after Syr- ia’s Majd Eddin Ghazal faulted all his three attempts at the height. Donald Thomas of the Bahamas was third with 2.30m. However, the 26-year-old made an- other attempt, at 2.40m, and cleared it on his fi rst attempt to a raucous applause. Even though his eff orts at 2.42m, an attempt to break Ivan Ukhov’s 2014 meet record of 2.41m, were not successful, it was the sixth Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba (foreground) on his way to a victory in the men’s 400m hurdles yesterday. straight year that Barshim had cleared 2.40m, extending his record. “I’m proud of what I achieved to- “My mother is here, she’s cheering night, but before even looking toward for me. I’m really blessed,” the two- the World Record, I’m focusing on the time Olympic medallist said. IAAF World Athletics Championship in “I made some mistakes, but very 2019 right here in Doha,” Haroun said happy with the result and proud. I feel after earning seven qualifi cation points so great, winning. I was not fi t to suc- for his second place. ceed in all the jumps, but still extremely There was no stopping South Afri- happy at the end. I wanted to break a ca’s Caster Semenya who ran a personal record today, but still very ambitious best 3:59.92 to win the women’s 1500m for the rest of the season. event. “Being here with so many great Qa- Semenya has been at the centre of a tari athletes, such as Haroun and Sam- debate stemming from a recent IAAF ba, is just amazing. It’s a testament to rule on women’s testosterone but the fact that Qatar really has some great brushed any of those distractions by talent.” storming to a victory in a world leading Samba retained the 400m hurdles time. crown in scintillating fashion better- “It’s always been a dream to set the ing his earlier world leading time with a NR and continue to push beyond my 47.57sec fi nish, also setting a Diamond PB, and I think we defi nitely achieved League record in the process. what we came here for,” Semenya said. Samba, who had missed out on a When she was asked about why she 2017 World Championship medal after hadn’t commented on the IAAF rules to clipping the last hurdle on the way to counteract higher levels of testosterone the fi nish in August last year, had come in women, she was quoted as saying by into yesterday’s meet in great form on AFP, “I don’t talk about nonsense.” the back of a world leading 47.90 eff ort Kenya’s Nelly Jepkosgei and Ethio- in Potchefstroom in South Africa last pia’s Habitam Alemu were second and month. third in 4:00.99 and 4:01.41 respec- Yesterday, he beat the rest of the tively. fi eld, that also included the Diamond Two-time Olympic champion Qatar’s Abdalelah Haroun (right) finished second behind Steven Gardiner in the League champion Kyron McMaster and Christian Taylor had to settle for the men’s 400m event yesterday. Olympic champion Kerron Clement, second place yet again three years after by one and a half seconds. Bershawn Cuba’s Pablo Pichardo had beaten him ympic, European and Diamond League Reigning Olympic champion Elaine Jackson of the US ran a season’s best in the men’s triple jump event. champion, also jumped 4.64m but had Thompson had to settle for third in the 49.08sec for a runner-up spot, while In the 2015 edition, both the men to settle for a tied fourth along with women’s 100m after the 2017 world McMaster ran 49.46sec for his third had jumped 18m plus with Pichardo compatriot Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou. silver medallist Marie Josee Tao Lou place fi nish. winning by a margin of 2cm. Yester- There was a German sweep in jave- of the Ivory Coast ran a personal best “I’ve defended my title, YES!” a pal- day, both their best eff orts were in their lin with Olympic champion Thomas 10.85 for a win. Blessing Okagbare- pably ecstatic Samba said after the win. third attempts, with Pichardo topping Rohler retaining his Doha crown with Ighoteguonor of Nigeria was second in “I’m very happy for me and for Qatar. the event with 17.95m and Taylor jump- 91.78m eff ort. Compatriot and world 10.90sec, with 200m world champion Winning at home is an amazing feel- ing 17.81m. Azerbaijan’s Alexis Copello champion Johannes Vetter defi nitely Dafne Schippers was sixth. ing, especially to break not only my was third with 17.21m. started big with 91.56m on his fi rst at- Earlier in the evening, Croatia’s San- record and the national record, but the “I feel wonderful. I’m very surprised tempt, but couldn’t improve thereafter dra Perkovic continued her strangle- Diamond League record as well. I have by the result, but will take it as a chance to settle for second place. hold on women’s discus throw event a feeling this will be a great season for to learn from the experience, and the Andreas Hofmann also cleared as the reigning world, Olympic, Euro- me, and all I want to do is run even fast- guys I competed against. I’m happy I 90.08m for his third place, pushing pean and Diamond League champion er. The audience was so welcoming and fi nished the competition healthy, and India’s 2018 Commonwealth Games smashed her own meet record with a I want to also thank everyone for being will always keep smiling,” Taylor, the champion Neeraj Chopra (87.43m) to 71.38m eff ort on her third attempt. here today.” six-time Diamond League champion, fourth. Cuba’s Yaime Perez was second Qatar’s fi rst top three fi nish of the day said. “I’ve trained so hard to break my “Today was great, but it wasn’t easy. with 66.82m, while compatriot Denia was 400m world bronze medallist Ab- own record, and the WR as well. I’m There’s always room for improvement. Caballero’s only legal eff ort of 63.80 dallelah Haroun, who fi nished behind going to Shanghai next week, so who My teammates and I travel together and placed her third in the competition. world silver medallist Steven Gardiner of knows?” train together, which motivates me al- “I was so close to my personal best, the Bahamas yesterday. With South Afri- Sandi Morris of the US carried her ways. I’ve been preparing and knew I I really think Doha Diamond League is can world champion Wayde van Niekerk winning form from Indoor Worlds in could throw that far. I was even able to my lucky place,” Perkovic, who came absent due to a knee injury, it was always Birmingham earlier this year, to win the take some risks today, and know that within 3cm of her personal best yester- going to be a strong race with the reigning fi rst Diamond League meet of the sea- I’m in good physical shape,” Rohler day, said. Diamond League champion Isaac Mak- son with 4.84m eff ort. said. “The environment here is amazing, wala also in the mix. Britain’s Holly Bradshaw and Ka- Noah Lyles of the US ran a meet and the conditions set me up for the Gardiner ran a meet record of tie Nageotte of the US, both jumped record 19.83sec in the men’s 200m year, with the season just beginning. 43.87secs, beating LaShawn Merritt’s 4.64m with the former taking the sec- to win ahead of world bronze medal- This is perfect as we look to competing 2012 time of 44.19, while Haroun fi n- ond place on countback. list Jereem Richards (19.99) and world in the European Championships this ished with 44.50, ahead of Makwala in Greek pole vault star Katerina Stefa- champion Ramil Guilyev (20.11) of Tur- year, and Doha has made me ready to 44.92. nidi, who is also the reigning world, Ol- key. make my mark there.” Gulf Times 2 Saturday, May 5, 2018 ATHLETICS INNOVATION SPOTLIGHT AIU confi rms Revamped, exciting Kiprop positive test, rejects allegations Reuters ‘AMBASSADOR ROLE’ London The AIU statement did not ad- schedule for 2019 dress that allegation but added: “The advanced notice of test- he Athletics Integrity ing given by the doping control Next year’s championships Unit (AIU) confi rmed assistant could not reasonably yesterday that Ken- have caused EPO to be present in will see midnight marathon yan former three-times Mr Kiprop’s sample and, as such, Tworld 1,500 metres champion the departure does not invalidate and 4x400m mixed relay Asbel Kiprop had tested posi- the (test)..