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. Then came the moment of truth for the Qatari hero, and he came out of it with flying colours. Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim celebrates after winning the men’s high jump He looked emotional but focused and jumped well final during the 2019 IAAF Athletics World Championships at the Khalifa clear of 2.33 to stay in contention. International Stadium in Doha, yesterday. Barshim defended his world title after With that jump, Barshim looked a champion already clearing a height of 2.37m. PICTURES: ABDUL BASIT / THE PENINSULA, REUTERS as he cleared 2.35m easily before Akimenko raised the bar to 2.37m. While, Akimenko failed to clear the height, Barshim did that in the first attempt to seal the crown screaming “I am Mutaz Barshim, I am the world champion”. “For me, it was just a dream. At home, it was just amazing. Everybody was there – my family, friends and the Amir himself. I was not 100 percent ready but when I came there and see all those people cheering for me, even if I was dying, if they take me from the wheelchair, or ambulance, I would do everything I can,” the champion high jumper said after the final. “I needed to give it some action. If I jumped the 2.33 easy, it is boring and everyone just jumps, jumps, jumps. My coach was sometimes toughing his hearts but sometimes you need to get it the hard way. I am never afraid but Russia, they always have good high jumpers. So it was good to jump against those good high jumpers. I give respect to everyone out there,” Barshim said. Akimenko, who had first time clearances up to 2.35m, claimed the silver medal while Ivanyuk, who matched the 2.35m of his Russian counterpart but needed three to get over at 2.33m, took the bronze. “I must be happy for the bronze (silver) as this is my first major senior championships. The personal record is great but I know I could have jumped the 237 in the second attempt,” said Akimenko. MEN'S HIGH JUMP FINAL It is a great motivation for the Olympic year and I am going to jump as much as I can also indoors,” he POS ATHLETE COUNTRY MARK added. Gold Mutaz Essa Barshim QAT 2.37 WL Ivanyuk said: “We had a really fantastic compe- tition today. Certainly, when we knew years ago, that Silver Mikhail Akimenko ANA 2.35 PB these championships are going to be held in Doha, we Bronze Ilya Ivanyuk ANA 2.35 PB understood that Mutaz Barshim will be in greatest shape ever to fight for the gold. 4 Maksim Nedasekau BLR 2.33 Meanwhile, Italy’s Tamberi Gianmarco who com- 5 Luis Enrique Zayas CUB 2.30 PB peted in the final rated Barshim as best high jumper in the world. 6 Brandon Starc AUS 2.30 SB “Barshim is no doubt the best high jumper in the 7 Michael Mason CAN 2.30 world. It’s a great achievement for Barshim, winning a gold medal in front of home fans,” said Gianmarco. 02 SPORT SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER 2019 September 27 - October 6 Spectators hold a Barshim’s gold creates banner picturing Qatar’s real buzz at Khalifa Mutaz Essa Barshim as International Stadium they watch the men’s high jump FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA final As Mutaz Essa Barshim competed in the final yesterday, it created an electrifying atmosphere at the packed Khalifa International Stadium (KIS) with home fans coming in groups and huge numbers to back their hero. It was an 8th day at the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2018, and one could easily say the venue saw the biggest turnout of the 10-day showpiece event so far. Barshim’s men’s high jump final was scheduled to start at 8:15pm but fans could be seen storming towards the venue from 5pm. With the 48000-capacity venue already filled, thousands of enthu- siasts were also seen attempting entry inside the stadium and were unable to get their seats. Yesterday’s schedule at the KIS also included finals of discus throw, women’s 400m hurdles, 3,000m steeplechase, and men’s 400m. The highlight of the day, of course, was Barshim’s gold, but US athlete Dalilah Muhammad also thrilled the crowd by renewing her world record in the women’s 400m final, clocking a magical 52.16. World Champion, Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim in action during the men’s high jump final during the 2019 IAAF Athletics World Championships at the Khalifa International stadium in Doha, yesterday. Barshim defended his world title with a 2.37m mark. PICTURES: ABDUL BASIT / THE PENINSULA, AGENCIES Gardiner brings cheers to Bahamas ARMSTRONG VAS THE PENINSULA Steven Gardiner gave something to cheer about for the Hurricane Dorian hit Bahamas as he won the men’s 400m at the IAAF World Champion- ships in empathic fashion at the Khalifa International Stadium yesterday. The 2017 silver medalist clocked 43.48 secs to win gold. Gardiner comes from Abaco town which saw the maximum destruction during last month’s natural calamity. Anthony Zambrano of Colombia claimed silver for his first world medal, leaving Fred Kerley of the United States to settle for bronze. Steven upped his pace through the second bend and striding away from to a Bahamas national record and the second fastest time in the world this year. Meanwhile in the men’s the 3,000m steeplechase Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya stormed to the gold winning the event in a photo finish. The winning time was 8 minutes 1.35 seconds, the fastest by anyone this season. was the fastest time this year and the second fastest winning Dalilah breaks her own world record to win gold time at a world championships. The 2016 Olympic and 2017 FAWAD HUSSAIN Dalilah Muhammad of the US poses next to the screen reading the will go for her personal best and world champion overhauled Ethi- THE PENINSULA new world record in the women’s 400m hurdles final at the 2019 that will be a record for the opian 18-year-old Lamecha Girma IAAF Athletics World Championships at the Khalifa International world. Muhammad’s per- on the final stretch to win by just Dalilah Muhammad vowed to stadium in Doha, yesterday. PICTURES: ABDUL BASIT / THE PENINSULA formance also earns her a one-hundredth of a second with the break our own world record in US$100,000 bonus as part of the Ethiopian having had to settle for the Doha, and the American lived world record programme sup- silver. up to her promise yesterday. ported by QNB and TDK. Soufiane El Bakkali got the bronze. She clocked a magical 52.16, She started the final well and The Moroccan was in contention at the taking 0.04 from her own mark was up quickest at led by an inch bell but couldn’t live with the finishing to win the women’s 400m over McLaughlin after the first speed of the front two. hurdles gold medal, leaving 100m. Meanwhile, Cuba dominated the spectators at the packed Khalifa McLaughlin tried to catch women’s discus throw with a 1-2. International Stadium thrilled. Dalilah but she was away by a Yaime Perez and Denia Caballero Sydney McLaughlin, as yard as they came through the won the first two places leaving expected gave tough time to her second bend. Dalilah maintained Crotian Perez threw 69.17 at her fifth American team-mate and was her lead to world record for the attempt to snatch the lead from the second fastest with a time second time in three months. Caballero, whose best mark was of 52.23, with Jamaica’s Rushell “I just decided to go for it 68.44. Sandra Perkovic, the Olympic Clayton taking bronze with a from the start but I didn’t think champion, had to settle for bronze time of 53.74.