Al Sadd beat Al Sailiya to go atop QSL standings PAGE 16 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 Rashid Saleh Hamad shoots two medals for RUGBY WORLD CUP Qatar at Asian Shotgun C’ships in Almaty PAGE 17 Fiji vs Uruguay Qatar’s Fares Ibrahim wins silver medal at Weighlifting Worlds TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK a total lift of 402kgs. class - one in the snatch, one in DOHA The gold was won by Chi- the clean and jerk, and one for na’s Tian Tao, who had a to- the total weight lifted. ATAR’S weightlifting tal lift of 410 kgs (180-Snatch This is a significant qualify- star Fares Ibrahim Has- & 230-Clean & Jerk). Bronze ing event for Tokyo 2020 with Qsouna claimed a silver went to Gerogia’s Pliesnoi An- the points going towards the in the Men’s 96kg ton (394kgs – 181&213). Olympic ranking list. The Pat- Snatch and Clean & Jerk Fares had sensationally won taya event is a Gold Level com- category at the 2019 IWF gold with record-breaking lifts petition and the performance World Weightlifting Champi- in the same category at the 5th could have a significant bear- onships in Pattaya, Thailand, Qatar International Cup 2018 ing on athletes making it to the on Tuesday. in Doha. 2020 Tokyo Olympics as per The 21-year-old Fares, A record 606 athletes from the new qualification norms. who had won a silver at the 100 countries are competing at The qualification process 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, the 10-day World Weightlifting for Tokyo 2020 is based on the stood out with his prowess Championships in Pattaya which performances of the weightlift- and concentration lift- conclude on September 27th. ers in six events over a period of Fares Ibrahim Hassouna celebrates with Qatar’s flag on the podium. ing 178kg in Snatch and There are three gold med- 18 months out of which the four 224kg in Clean & Jerk for als up for grabs in each weight best results will be considered. Qatar’s Fares Ibrahim Hassouna exults in delight after his silver winning lift in the men’s 96kg Snatch and Clean and Jerk event at the 2019 IWF World Weightlifting Championships at the SAT Indoor Athletics Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand, on Tuesday. Samba seeks to blaze track as Qatar awaits HE marquee men’s track ron McMaster. The British event of the 2019 season Virgin Islands athlete has a Twill witness three of the season’s best of 48.33 and can world’s four quickest men in also contend. history line up for what could The US challenge is gar- prove the race of the IAAF Men’s 400m hurdles nished by the presence of World Athletics Champion- TJ Holmes, the 2017 World ships Doha 2019. Championships fifth-place Big things are expected The tall Qatar hurdler is finisher, who finished second from Qatari hurdler Abder- the third member of the sub- behind Benjamin at the US rahman Samba who first 47-second gang in Doha. He Championships. Amere Lat- rose to global fame by beat- dominated the 2018 cam- tin, the 2016 world U20 110m ing Olympic champion Ker- paign, recording a spectacu- hurdles silver medallist, com- ron Clement to the first place lar best time of 46.98 to raise pletes the US men’s 400m in the Doha leg of 2017 IAAF hopes Samba could become hurdles team, boasting a sea- Diamond League. world champion in front of his son’s best of 48.66. The 23-year-old hurdling home fans in Doha. Alison Dos Santos of phenomenon was ranked However, injury has re- Defending champion Karsten Warholm leads a trio of gifted athletes. Brazil had enjoyed a break- 7th on his global debut at stricted his 400m hurdles out season, winning the Pan the IAAF World Athlet- outings to just the Asian the NCAA title in 2018 and American and World Univer- ics Championships London Championships and Shang- he has continued to impress sity Games titles. The World 2017, and became the second hai Diamond League – albeit this season. Besides his stun- Championships represents fastest men’s 400m hurdler the latter won in a blistering ning 46.98 time in Brussels, a big step up in class for ever when he ran the race 47.27. His current form is un- he also claimed the US title the teenager but the 48.45 in 46.98, the second person known and given the quality Abderrahman Samba, who dominated the 2018 campaign recording and Diamond League wins in performer will be hunting a only to ever finish the event he faces defending champion a spectacular best time of 46.98, could become world champion in Stanford and Rome. place in the final. His com- in less than 47 seconds. Karsten Warholm and US the men’s 400m hurdles in front of his home fans in Doha. There is an ocean of time patriot Marcio Teles set a Samba continued to daz- sensation Rai Benjamin, he between the lead three ath- season’s best of 48.60 to take zle the world of athletics at the faces a formidable challenge champions in this event. at the IAAF Diamond League letes in the world and the the Brazilian title and could 23rd Asian Athletics Champi- to strike gold in the Khalifa The dynamic Norwegian final in Brussels when he rest but few would discount also feature. onships in Doha when he not International Stadium. has so far enjoyed a perfect blasted to a European record Yasmani Copello from a po- Other names competing only won gold but also clocked The men’s 400m hurdles year, winning the European of 46.92 to climb to second on dium spot. The Turkish ath- include France’s European 47.51, a world lead and the event is scheduled for October indoor 400m title in March the world all-time list behind lete scooped world silver in Team Championships runner- best time ever set in April. 5 (Saturday). before racking up a 100% Kevin Young. 2017, 2016 Olympic bronze up Ludvy Vaillant, who made “That was my first Asian Leading the trio of gifted winning streak in the 400m Finishing just 0.06 adrift and snared a European silver a big breakthrough this year Championships gold medal, athletes thus is Warholm, who hurdles this year, which has of Warholm in Paris – to him- medal last year. to run 48.30, Poland’s 2015 I am glad I won it for Qatar. is aiming to join an exclusive included five victories at IAAF self elevate himself to joint- US sensation Rai Benjamin. Another with a strong World Championships final- I want to finish first here at club, containing Ed Moses, Fe- Diamond League meetings. third on the world all-time list pedigree is Commonwealth ist Patryk Dobek, and 2016 the World Championships as lix Sanchez and Kerron Clem- The 23-year-old’s most – is Benjamin. made a huge breakthrough champion and two-time Dia- Olympic finalist Rasmus Magi well,” Samba had said. ent, as back-to-back world impressive performance came Aged just 22, Benjamin when running 47.02 to take mond League title holder Ky- of Estonia. (IAAF) Sports Wednesday, September 25, 2019 15 IAAF WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS DOHA 2019 Minister of Culture and Sports visits Khalifa Stadium, Qatar Sports Club HE Salah bin Ghanim al Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports with officials at Qatar Sports Club. HE Salah bin Ghanim al Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports with other officials at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Tuesday. HE oversees preparations for Doha Worlds TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK His Excellency also toured Ghanim al Ali praised the level DOHA Qatar Sports Club to see the fi- of full readiness to receive par- nal preparations at the venue. ticipants and guests for the HE Salah bin Ghanim al Ali, The minister thanked HE mega event being held for the Minister of Culture and Sports, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al first time in the Middle East. on Tuesday visited the Khalifa Thani, Chairman of the Su- His Excellency also praised International Stadium to over- preme Organizing Committee the important role of volun- see the final preparations for of the IAAF World Athletics teers at the championships the hosting of the IAAF World Championships Doha 2019, and and said that volunteering is Athletics Championships Doha praised the efforts exerted by the a noble and invaluable human 2019 to be held from Septem- staff of the Organizing Commit- trait. “I am happy to register ber 27 to October 6. tee for this huge sporting event. my name as a volunteer in this The minister was briefed The preparations reflect tournament to work with all in on the latest preparations for leading position of Qatar in highlighting the honourable the championships. the sports field, and Salah bin image of Qatar,” he said. Inside view of the majestic Khalifa International Stadium. (© Getty Images for IAAF) South African athletes arrive to a cheerful welcome at HIA CATHERINE W GICHUKI DOHA THE South African commu- nity led by South African am- bassador gathered at Hamad International Airport (HIA) Track number signs are placed in a line inside the Khalifa Internation- to welcome athletes from their al Stadium ahead of the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha country taking part in the 2019 on Tuesday. (AFP) World Athletics Champion- ships Doha 2019, starting this Friday at the Hamad Interna- ‘Unprecedented level’ tional Airport. Dressed in South African clothes and waving the flag, of drug testing around the community enchanted the guests with typical Afri- athletics worlds can songs and dances bring- ing the ambience of a small DPA Member federations with South Africa in Doha.