NBA | Page 6 CRICKET | Page 9 Cavs take Rahane long-range powers approach Pune to to big win 7-wkt win Friday, May 6, 2016 TENNIS Rajab 29, 1437 AH Murray dominates GULF TIMES Simon to reach Madrid quarters SPORT Page 8 US sprinters Tori Bowie (L), Veronica Campbell-Brown and Dutch Dafne Schippers (C) at the Museum of Islamic Art IAAF DIAMOND LEAGUE DOHA LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION As many as 11 reigning world champions lead a field of 80 global medallists who will embark on the road to achieve their 2016 Olympic aspirations, starting with today’s Diamond League meeting By Satya Rath Qatar Athletics Federation president events. After equalling his own 9.91 for the fi rst time, an appearance she’s Doha Dahlan al-Hamad echoed Coe’s senti- Asian record in the 100m last month eagerly anticipating. “I’ve heard that ments: “We have set high standards in in Florida, the fastest timing in 100m it’s a very nice track, and it’s very nice organising important and prestigious this year, Femi Ogunode will be among to be able to compete against these very t’s that time of the year again, as it sporting events in previous years and the favourites in the men’s 200m. He is fast women,” Schippers said. has been for the last six years. we aim to continue at the highest pos- also the Asian record holder in the 200 One of those “fast women” she’ll be The opening leg of the IAAF sible level. As this is the Olympic year, at 19.97. “I’m calm,” Ogunode said. “I’m lining up against in the 100m is Jamai- Diamond League, a one-day ath- we are confi dent the Doha meeting will not anxious about competing here. I’m can Veronica Campbell-Brown, a two- Iletics competition featuring some of off er the athletes an ideal start to what in my home country. I trust in myself and time Olympic 200m champion who has the world’s top athletes, will enter its is going to be a really hectic season,” the believe in myself, so there is no pressure.” been among the world’s top sprinters seventh year when Doha kicks off the QAF chief, who is also one of the vice- His main challenge will come from since 2001. 14-meeting series’ traditional curtain- presidents of the IAAF, said. Panama’s Alonso Edward, Walter Dix of It will be a new challenge for Schip- raiser for the seventh successive year at Among the big names who would the US, and Ameer Webb, another rising pers though, who took the bronze in the Qatar Sports Club today. be kicking off their outdoor seasons in US star who clocked 19.91 last month. heptathlon at the 2013 World Champi- As many as 11 reigning world cham- Doha are reigning Olympic champi- In the 400m, all eyes will be on Qa- onships, before shifting her focus to the pions lead a fi eld of 38 past and current ons Christian Taylor, Aries Merritt and tar’s latest hot prospect, the 19-year- sprints. “That’s a nice new world for global champions and 80 global med- Ezekiel Kemboi. old Abdalelah Haroun who took silver me, a new challenge, but I am enjoying allists who will embark on the road to Taylor has been a familiar face in IAAF chief Sebastian Coe (left) with QAF president Dahlan al-Hamad at the World Indoor Championships in it,” said the Dutch athlete, who said she achieve their 2016 Olympic aspirations, the Qatar capital. “I love competing, I March. A prodigious talent, Haroun set might think of trying it out in long jump starting with the Diamond League love getting points, I love being on top Coe calls for ‘entertaining’ athletics an Asian U20 record last year clocking sometime in the coming years. meeting leading up to Rio. of podiums, so I try to do what I need 44.29, the eighth fastest performance The series will introduce a modifi - It will also be a big day for Qatar’s to do to put me in that place. Doha has thletics must become “a lot more entertaining” and follow the lead set by of the year. cation to its scoring system this year, medal hopefuls, with the country plan- always been a happy place for me, I like Abasketball and winter sports to attract younger fans, feels Sebastian Coe. The He’ll face a daunting line-up in his extending to six from three the number ning to send its biggest-ever contingent the crowd, I like the atmosphere, and I world athletics chief, speaking in Doha 24 hours ahead of the opening Diamond fi rst Doha main stage debut lead by of athletes who can earn points at each of 34 athletes to Rio, who will com- like the weather. My fi rst jump beyond League meeting of the season, said his sport needed to adapt and use new for- LaShawn Merritt, a former Olympic meeting. Additionally, in the throws pete in swimming, shooting, handball, 18 metres happened here in Doha, so it mats and engage with its audience more on social media. and two-time world champion. Mer- and horizontal jumps, only the top four equestrian and table tennis besides will always remain special. But it’s both “We have to make our sport a lot more entertaining and a lot more innovative ritt, last year’s World Championships athletes after three rounds will earn track and fi eld, where they have a real- a blessing and curse. Now the bar is set for younger people, that means the speed with which they watch events,” Coe silver medallist, illustrated impres- three additional attempts. istic chance of landing medals. really high,” said the American triple- said. “Our activity is athletics but our business is entertainment.” sive early season form with a 19.78 ca- This year’s Diamond League car- jumper, a two-time world champion He cited the example of winter sports, which have brought in several new reer best and world leading time in the ries added signifi cance, as it is also the who’ll be targeting a second successive competitions in recent years, including 10 new events at the 2014 Sochi Olym- 200m in Nassau last month. SCHEDULE Olympic year, and for the athletes, the Olympic title in Rio. pics. These included the luge relay, women’s ski jumping and snowboard parallel In the high jump, local hero Mutaz series is the perfect platform to gauge Taylor notched his second world ti- slalom. Coe also pointed to the NBA, which has attracted hundreds of millions of Barshim, the 2014 World Indoor cham- Women's Pole Vault (17:45) their strengths and weaknesses ahead tle last year with an 18.21m leap that fans on social media. pion, will command the spotlight in a Women's Shot Put (17:45) of the big event. elevated him to the No. 2 position all- The IAAF president also reaff irmed recent claims that changes could be made to fi eld that includes world champion Derek Women's Triple (18:10) IAAF president Sebastian Coe, who time. This year Taylor will take on Ted- speed up the format of the Olympics and World Championships. He also said athletics Drouin of Canada, China’s world silver Men's Discus Throw (18:30) took over the top job last year, stressed as dy Tamgho of France, another member should consider extending its season, which currently runs from May to September. medallist Zhang Guowei and Erik Kynard Men's High Jump (18:45) much while addressing the media yes- of the event’s exclusive 18-metre club. “We are never going to die, we are a strong sport, but I think we can be much of the US, the Olympic silver medallist. Men's 400m (19:04) terday. “Doha hosted the fi rst ever Dia- Merritt, the world record holder in better. I don’t think we have kept up with other sports in the way we access In the 800m race, two-time Asian Women's 100m (19:15) mond League meeting in 2010 and has 110m hurdles, continues his comeback younger people,” said Coe. champion Musaeb Abdulrahman Balla since been hosting the curtain-raiser of after undergoing a kidney transplant The Diamond League has achieved a lot since it was created in March 2009. It will be looking to kick off his outdoor Men's 1500m (19:25) the series with great success,” said the surgery last year just four days after is athletics’ most lucrative circuit with prize money totalling over 8 million dollars. It campaign with a fast time to make Women's 400m Hurdles (19:39) Englishman, who is a former decorated taking bronze at the World Champion- is also broadcast annually to over 120 countries. It’s a perfect vehicle to showcase amends for his unfortunate race at the Men's 3000m Steeplechase (19:50) middle distance runner himself. ships. He’ll face a strong challenge from how the sport can and must continue to evolve to attract new and wider audi- World Indoor Championships fi nal. Men's Triple Jump (19:50) “There’s a unique expectation and Jamaican Omar McLeod (12.97 personal ences. “Athletics, which was born in antiquity, has prospered over thousands of He’ll face former World Indoor cham- Women's Javelin Throw (19:55) excitement for this year’s meeting be- best), the hottest hurdler in the world years simply because of its ability to evolve,” Coe said.