16 SPORT SATURDAY 6 MAY 2017 Barshim, Samba make Qatar proud Fawad Hussain The Peninsula ouble Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson and South Africa’s Caster Semenya Dclaimed victories along with Qatar’s Olympic hero Mutaz Barshim and new sensation IAAF DIAMOND LEAGUE Abdurrahman Samba as Doha DOHA 2017 - RESULTS (TOP 3) kicked off the IAAF Diamond League for the eighth consecu- MEN’S HIGH JUMP tive year, yesterday. 1. Mutaz Barshim (QAT) 2.36 The 2017 series got off to a 2. Robbie Grabarz (GBR) 2.31 perfect start as almost ideal 3. Donald Thomas (BAH) 2.29 conditions along with around MEN’S 400M HURDLES 15,000 spectators greeted the 1. Abdulrahman Samba (QAT) 48.44 track and field stars at packed 2. Kerron Clement (USA) 49.40 Qatar Sports Club. 3. Van Zyl (SA) 49.49 As many as five World Leads MEN’S 100M were produced in the season- 1. Akani Simbine (SA) 9.99 opening meeting, including the 2. Asafa Powell (JAM) 10.08 one from Rio Games silver med- 3. Femi Ogunode (QAT) 10.13 allist Barshim, who leaped MEN'S 400M 2.36m to begin his season in 1. Steven Gardiner (Bahamas) 44.60 style. 2. LaShawn Merritt (US) 44.78 Barshim looked in top form 3. Tony McQuay (US.) 44.92 outclassing his opponents with MEN'S 1500M a flawless show. Robbie Grabarz 1. Elijah Manangoi (Kenya) 3:31.90 of Great Britain finished second 2. Silas Kiplagat (Kenya) 3:32.23 with a jump of 2.31 while Bah- 3. Bethwell Birgen (Kenya) 3:32.27 rain’s Donald Thomas took third WOMEN'S 200M position with 2.29. 1. Elaine Thompson (Jamaica) 22.19 “We came here to take two 2. Dafne Schippers (Netherlands) 22.45 targets – the win and the lead. Qatari athletes Abderrahman Samba (left) and Mutaz Barshim celebrate after winning the men's 400 metres hurdles and men's high jump events respectively during the IAAF Diamond League - Doha 2017 athletics competition at the Suhaim bin 3. Marie Josee Ta Lou (Cote D'Ivoire) I got that so I don’t want to 22.77 Hamad Stadium in Doha yesterday. Picture: Kamutty VP/the Peninsula exhaust myself. I’ll be in Shang- WOMEN'S 800M hai in five days so hoping for the 1. Caster Semenya (South Africa) 1:56.61 best,” Barshim said after win- with a time of 22.45. Marie-Josse Diamond League said Simbine. Powell was not finished the distance in 44.60sec 2. Margaret Wambui (Kenya) 1:57.03 ning the contest. Ta Lou of Cote d’Ivoire finished Doha - 2017 upset for his failure to win the to win the race. 3. Eunice Jepkoech Sum (Kenya) 1:58.76 Samba, who made the world third clocking her season best race. “It was really hard but I WOMEN'S 100M HURDLES lead time in South Africa in time of 22.77. Diamond League “I am not surprised coming expected this victory,” the Baha- 1. Kendra Harrison (US) 12.59 March, lived up to the expecta- “This is my first time in series off to a in second, we are only just mian said after his win. 2. Cindy Roleder (Germany) 12.90 tions and won the men’s 400m Doha and my first race of the beginning our season. I wanted The 31-year-old LeShawn blistering start in Doha 3. Sharika Nelvis (US) 12.91 hurdles with a time of 48.44, to season. I just wanted to get the to go sub-10, but couldn’t came in second position with his WOMEN'S SHOT PUT secure second triumph for the race right and see how far I am because of the win,” he said. season best time of 44.78 while South Africa's Simbine 1. Michelle Carter (US) 19.32 hosts. He finished ahead of Ker- in the season, and I just wanted Kenyans dominated the his countryman Tony McQuay stuns stars Powell and 2. Anita Marton (Hungary) 18.99 ron Clement of USA and Van Zyl to execute,” she said after her men’s 1500m with Elijah Man- finished third with a time of Gatlin to win Men’s 3. Aliona Dubitskaya (Belarus) 18.90 of South Africa who took second win. angoi setting a world lead time 44.92, also his season’s best. 100m; Thompson, MEN'S 3000M and third positions respectively South African Olympic of 3:31.90 to win the race. His “I could have executed more, with time of 49.40, and 49.49. champion Semenya stole lime- Semenya excel compatriots Silas Kiplagat but it’s a little windy. It’s start of 1. Ronald Kwemoi (Kenya) 7:28.73 “I competed against cham- light in the women’s 800m by (3:32.23) and Bethwell Birgan the season but I feel good,” said 2. Paul Kipkemoi Chelimo (US) 7:31.57 pions and this is such an marking the world lead and set- yesterday, South Africa’s rising (3:32.27) secured the next two LeShawn. 3. Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia) 7:32.27 MEN'S TRIPLE JUMP honour,” said the rising Qatari ting the new meeting record. sprinter Akani Simbine stunned spots respectively. In Men's 3000m, Ronald star. She finished the job in 1:56.61 the star-studded line-up in “It was a wonderful and Kwemoi of Kenya clocked 7:28.73 1. Christian Taylor (US) 17.25 “The focus is now on World to better the meeting record of men’s 100m including Jamaica’s impressive first race this season, to take world lead 2. Omar Craddock (US) 17.08 Championships and I am very Pamela Jelimo. The Kenyan set Asafa Powell - a former world I feel I am in good shape,” Man- As expected, Rio Games gold 3. Alexis Copello (Azerbaijan) 16.81 happy with the outcome,” added the record of 1:56.94 in May 2012. record holder – and Justlin Gat- angoi said after the race. medalist Michelle Carter of the MEN'S JAVELIN THROW Samba. “The race was fantastic and lin, (USA) who won the silver Germany’s Thomas Rohler US won the women’s shot put 1. Thomas Roehler (Germany) 93.90 In one of the marquee events the field is great. I am looking medal at last year’s Olympic excelled in men’s javelin throw, with her season’s best throw of 2. Johannes Vetter (Germany) 89.68 of the first meeting, Jamaica’s forward to having great races, Games in Rio. shattering the Diamond League 19.32m. She was followed by 3. Jakub Vadlejch (Czech Republic) Thompson, who won double my only concern now is to fin- The 21-year-old clocked record besides recording the Hungary’s Amita Marton (18.99) 87.91 gold in Rio de Janeiro last year, ish my studies,” Semenya said. 9.99 to win the race while Pow- world lead by striking 93.90 to and Bulgaria’s Aliona Dubitskaya WOMEN'S 3000M STEEPLECHASE prevailed over rival Dafne Schip- “I am left with two semes- ell finished second with a time win the contest. (18.90) on second and third posi- 1. Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi (Kenya) pers of the Netherlands to win ters, so need to graduate and get of 10.08 while Qatar’s Femi In men’s 400m race, young tions respectively. 9:00.12 the women’s 200m race on her my focus back on track,” she Ogunode claimed third position talent prevailed over experience “Starting the season with a 2. Beatrice Chepkoech (Kenya) 9:01.57 Doha debut. added. with a time of 10.13. Gatlin had as 21-year-old Steven Gardiner season best makes me feel so 3. Ruth Jebet (Bahrain) 9:01.99 She finished the distance Finishing behind Semenya to be content with fourth spot. of Bahamas finished ahead of good, knowing that my training WOMEN'S POLE VAULT with her season best time of were Kenyans Nyairera Marga- “I am now looking forward former Olympic champion paid off,” said the 31-year-old. 1. Ekaterini Stefanidi (Greece) 4.80 22.19 while Schippers – the sil- ret (1:57.03) and Jepkoech Eunice to the World Championships (in LeShawn Merritt of USA to start I am looking forward to bet- 2. Sandi Morris (US) 4.75 ver medalist in Rio Games – fell Sum (1:58.76). August). I am in good shape and season with a win. Gardiner, who ter results the rest of the 3. Yarisley Silva (Cuba) 4.65 short and secured second spot In other feature event happy with my performance,” has personal best of 44.26, season,” she added. Farid and Coburn explore challenges female athletes face The Peninsula depth conversation. withdrawing from the 2014 how her hijab was an integral In spite of her background, Asian Games after being denied part of her identity. Like my little over 48 hours before beliefs and cultural expecta- permission to wear the tradi- hair is to me, it forms a key ele- stepping out onto Doha’s tions, Mariam is shaping a new tional covering. ment of who she is as a person A Qatar Sports Club track, path for Arab women in sport, For Mariam, the decision and is integral to her two remarkable athletes from a journey she hopes will inspire will embolden more local confidence.” different corners of the earth others like her to follow their women to participate in sport: She continued: “While we have come together for a frank dreams. When asked by her fel- “For me, athletics and sport in dress differently, it is clear that and open discussion that low runner how other young general is all about breaking there is so much more uniting explores the challenges and cul- women in Qatar can take inspi- down barriers, rather than us than separating us.