Russia’s Sidorova upstages Morris for pole vault gold MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 © IAAF Samba aims for home delight as Warholm, Benjamin loom Big men’s 400m hurdles battle could raise the roof at Khalifa International Stadium RAAJIV TRIPatHI DOHA IF there is any race in which Qatar’s flamboyant runner Abderrahman Sam- ba ever needs the backing of his fans and supporters, it is at the Khalifa Interna- tional Stadium tonight on Monday at 10.40 pm – the final of the 400m hur- dles of the IAAF World Athletics Cham- pionships Doha 2019. After having his 15-race winning streak curtailed by American Rai Ben- jamin in the Saturday’s semi-finals, Samba, looking to be in the fast lane of recovery after his injury in June this year, would badly need cheers of the home crowd to raise his bar a couple of notches. According to the form, fitness and fluency, defending champion I don’t even know if the sun is Karsten Warholm from Norway going to come up on Monday. We and Benjamin undoubtedly appear will see what happens but I have a shade better than Samba at the moment. But the Doha fans may not come here to be second or provide Samba the much-needed third, I have come here to win. I am boost that he requires to beat the not worried too much about the challenge and stand on the top of record, the gold will do. the podium. Warholm, Benjamin and Sam- – Rai Benjamin of the US ba took their turns to be ranked among the four quickest one-lap he was runner-up, he managed to record hurdlers in history of the event. 46.98 to tie Samba for the third spot. The setback of the 2017 London Samba is competing on his home soil so everybody will watch Now the three of the four fastest men worlds spurred Samba to come him and literally push him to the finish. But Rai is also chasing me since of the event history – Warholm, Benja- back into the reckoning and set min and Samba - are pitched in the bat- all the tracks afire last season, Zurich and he wants to beat me. I am very nervous to be honest and I tle for the gold and glory. Other runners after his victory in the 2017 think it is pretty obvious why. It has been a final everyone has been in the final include 2017 London worlds Zagreb IAAF World Chal- talking about. The level is very, very high and I am going to have dig very runner-up and Rio Olympics bronze lenge, in which he started his deep to have a chance of winning. I am not looking forward to that tough medallist Yasmani Copello (Turkey), TJ winning run with a 48.70 and painful experience on Monday but I am ready. Holmes (US), Alison dos Santos (Brazil) time. and Abdelmalik Lahoulou (Algeria). The Qatari then domi- – Karsten Warholm of Norway However, the leading trio is in class nated the scene like an of its own. If the race has seen a huge unchallenged Czar build-up, it is because of them. An un- of the men’s 400m Men’s 400m hurdles line-up precedented anticipation of fans for hurdles. In his in- LANE BIB ATHLETE COUNTRY PB SB the men’s 400m hurdles final may be credible sequence rewarded with a world record on Mon- of sizzling runs, he DOHA 2019 day as well. It has to be seen if War- became the second 2 1149 Kyron McMaster IVB 47.54 48.33 holm and defend the title and extend fastest man in the 3 1895 TJ Holmes USA 48.30 48.58 his winning run to nine. event in Paris in 4 1491 Karsten Warholm NOR 46.92 46.92 Samba always uses his unfortunate June when he 5 328 Alison dos Santos BRA 48.35 48.35 fumble on the last hurdle during the was timed home 6 1772 Yasmani Copello TUR 47.81 48.39 London WCH race two years ago to fire in 46.98. Then he 7 1867 Rai Benjamin USA 46.98 46.98 himself up. From a medal prospect, he wrapped up his Di- 8 105 Abdelmalik Lahoulou ALG 48.39 48.39 could finish a heartbreaking seventh. amond League campaign with another 9 1603 Abderrahman Samba QAT 46.98 47.27 Can the flashback of that race can com- victory in July. bine with the fans support to push Sam- Due to Asian Games, he had to run in Shanghai and posted a fine victory a head-to-head battle. The Norwegian ba to beat all the barriers and bag a gold? skip the Diamond League finals and on Benjamin, the son of famous West produced a scorching run and clocked The possibility can’t be ruled out. If he is focus on helping Qatar collect medals Indian cricketer Winston Benjamin. The 46.92 to rise to the second spot on the competing in three events in the Doha in Jakarta, Indonesia last season. Or pair was entered in the Eugene/Stanford all-time fastest list behind the world re- 2019, with 400m and 4x400m relays be- without a shred of doubt, he would leg in June as well. But Samba pulled out cord holder Kevin Young of the US. He ing other two, he must be certainly hav- have been a proud owner of at least of the race due to injury. also finished the year as unbeaten. ing a game plan and plenty of power in one Diamond League trophy! Then it was the time for Benjamin Benjamin was also inspired and his legs. It has to be seen how he tackles But this year, Samba began the out- and Warholm to up the game. In the Zu- launched a sizzling chase of Warholm. the most important race of his life thus door season with the Diamond League rich Diamond League finale, the two had The American was paid off and though far on the morrow. Abdelaziz Mohamed suffers 400m hurdles WR just a matter of time and date: Young a fall in 200m heats IAAF doubled to four the number of (Benjamin) and Karston (War- DOHA hurdlers who have smashed holm) and I asked, ‘how old are through the 47-second barrier. you guys? And they’re 22, 23 AS Kevin Young prepares to Three will be lining up in Khal- years old. I think, ‘Wow! Man!’ watch the men’s 400m hur- ifa Stadium in the final. You guys are still developing, dles final on Monday night, he “That’s the story,” Young you guys will probably break it does so knowing that his days said. “You have three hurdlers a few times.” as the world record holder in who haven’t reached their pin- The world record’s ‘X fac- the event are numbered. And nacle. That’s the beauty of this tor’, as Young calls it, lies in after carrying that honour for event right now.” the hurdler’s ability to control more than 27 years, he’s ex- Indeed, Young points out, their speed. cited about the prospect. the only component that’s “When I broke the world re- “Never in the history of the missing for the youthful trio - cord I ran six seconds to the first event have there been three Benjamin is 22, Warholm 23 hurdle. Between 5.8 and six sec- hurdlers at one time who have and Samba just turned 24 - is onds. I think it’s six seconds. Rai all run under 47.2,” Young experience. World record holder of 400m hurdles Kevin Young of the USA. told me it was 5.8 seconds. And said on the morning of Zu- “They are all young hur- I asked him, ‘How fast are you rich’s IAAF Diamond League dlers. And hurdling is a disci- he refers to as “the master” Young was 25 when he getting to the first hurdle?’ He final last month. pline which you develop over and a “well-oiled machine”. sped a seemingly impossible said 5.5. And I said, ‘You guys He didn’t know then that time. You get comfortable with “For many years I tried go- 46.78 to secure the 1992 Olym- are running too damned fast.’ ” less than 12 hours later his the race. And you get comfort- ing 13 steps, and floundered. pic gold medal, and his place in “That is the holy grail of the point would be underscored able with how you run the race. I tried it during the national athletics’ history. He smashed event. It’s called speed main- by Karsten Warholm and Rai It’s discipline and strategy.” championships in 1986 and the previous world record, Mo- tenance. I know personally, Benjamin after they joined Young said he spent much ended up going 11 steps at one ses’ fourth by a massive 0.24 when you get to that 200-me- Abderrahman Samba as mem- of his early career experi- of the hurdles. All through my seconds. That could only come, tre phase you start opening up bers of the sub-47 club in the menting with a variety of ap- last collegiate season I was go- he said, after a long period of and you want to run fast. It’s wake of one of the season’s proaches, running 13 strides ing 12 steps and chopping and studying the discipline, learn- the natural thing to do coming Qatar’s Abdelaziz Mohamed receives medical attention after he fell most spectacular showdowns.