Barshim Wows Home Crowd with World Title FAWAD HUSSAIN the PENINSULA
SPORT PAGE | 04-05 PAGE | 06 Breaking Ennis-Hill’s Champion Marquez record feels back on track in unbelievable: Thailand after Johnson-Thompson huge crash Saturday 5 October 2019 September 27 - October 6 Barshim wows home crowd with world title FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA It was champion stuff from Mutaz Essa Barshim as he bounced back brilliantly to win first gold medal for Qatar with a world leading leap of 2.37m, turning the Khalifa International Stadium into the sea of Qatari flags and sending the crowd into raptures. Yesterday, it looked completely a different day at the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 as a packed house of 48000 seats created an electrifying atmosphere, supporting their superstar every time he went for a leap. By retaining the title, Barshim, who also clinched gold medal at the 2017 London World Championships, became only the second high jumper in the world to win two world titles. Cuban great Javier Sotomayor was the first high jumper to achieve the feat. The two-time Olympic medalist yesterday gave fans all the excitement – showed them flawless leaps, made them nervous before giving them the euphoria. The 28-year-old, who suffered from an ankle injury and was barely seen in action in the last 18 months before the world cham- pionships, enjoyed a comfortable start, jumping to 2.19m, 2.24m, 2.27m and 2.30 without knocking the bar. After his smooth run in his first four marks, the home favourite failed twice in the 2.33m barrier, with Belarusian Maksim Nedasekau, Authorised Neutral Athletes Mikhail Akimenko and Ilya Ivanyuk all clearing the height.
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