Sport

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 | Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.

Sport


Mutaz Barshim has prioritised training in the build-up to his Olympic defence later this year, not competing since winning his third Asian Games title last October.

Barshim and Kerr to face off in Suzhou Diamond League

Two of the world’s finest high jumpers are set to do battle at the second Diamond League meeting of the season in Suzhou next month. Three-time Diamond League champion Mutaz Barshim of Qatar will face off against newly crowned World Indoor Champion Hamish Kerr, in what promises to be a battle of the highest quality.New Zealander Kerr is the world leader for 2024 having cleared 2.36m to take his maiden global title in Glasgow and will have high hopes of backing it up against perhaps the greatest of his generation in Barshim.Reigning Olympic champion Barshim, meanwhile, has prioritised training in the build-up to his Olympic defence later this year, not competing since winning his third Asian Games title in October 2023 and skipping the championships where Kerr beat a high-class field.For Barshim it will be one of the key indicators of his form as he aims to become the first to ever win two men’s Olympic high jump titles. No man in history has won more world outdoor titles than the three Barshim won in succession between 2017 and 2022, as well as a bronze in the most recent championships in Budapest.“I’m happy to be back in China to start my new season. Last year I finished my season in China at the Asian games and it was fantastic atmosphere and support. I have never been in Suzhou but looking forward to visit and compete there, and looking forward for a great competition,” said the Qatari.While Barshim has three Diamond League titles and 23 individual wins in athletics’ premier one-day series, Kerr only picked up his first Diamond League win last season in Stockholm.Yet the Oceania record holder is quickly amassing an impressive title collection of his own. In 2022 the 27-year-old backed up World indoor bronze with Commonwealth Games gold that summer and World Indoor gold in March.“I’m looking forward to making my first ever trip to China a successful one. After jumping 2.36 at World Indoors, I know I am in great shape leading into the meeting. I can’t wait to compete against some of the other best jumpers in the world, in front of what will be an amazing crowd,” said Kerr.


Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz reacts after winning match point against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells Masters men’s final tennis match at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. (AFP)

Desert star dust: Alcaraz clinches Indian Wells title

World number two Carlos Alcaraz cruised home in a 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 victory over Daniil Medvedev to win a second straight Indian Wells ATP title, both coming at the Russian’s expense.Alcaraz captured his first title since Wimbledon last July and became the first repeat winner at Indian Wells since Novak Djokovic won three straight titles from 2014-16.For the 20-year-old Spaniard, 12 days in the California desert proved just what he needed after a stuttering start to the season, which included a quarter-final exit at the Australian Open and an ankle injury that forced him out of his opening match at Rio de Janeiro in February.“A lot of doubts for me,” he said of his mindset coming in amidst his longest title drought since he burst through for his first Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open.For Alcaraz, however, it wasn’t just about ending the drought, it was about rediscovering his joy in the game.“It means a lot to me, lifting this trophy, winning this tournament, because I overcome a lot of problems in my head, a lot of problems physically,” he said. “Not that I didn’t win a tournament since Wimbledon. For me, it doesn’t matter, It’s about the feelings ... It’s about enjoying playing tennis, once I step on the court, putting my game. It’s what only matters. That’s why I’m really, really happy to lift this trophy, because I found myself at this tournament.”As he did last year, Alcaraz denied Medvedev’s bid to capture the only one of the ATP’s six hardcourt Masters 1000 titles he has yet to win.More importantly, after a week in which he ended Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner’s 19-match winning streak, Alcaraz was looking forward with renewed confidence to next week’s hardcourt tournament in Miami and beyond.“Obviously winning tournaments helps a lot coming to the next ones,” said Alcaraz, whose tournament included not only a semi-final victory over red-hot Sinner but also a brush with a swarm of bees in his quarter-final win over Alexander Zverev – the man who ousted him in Melbourne.“Obviously winning a Masters 1000 again – it is a really difficult tournament to win – gives you extra motivation to keep going, extra, extra confidence for Miami right now and for what’s next,” said Alcaraz, who joined compatriot Rafael Nadal as the only players to win five Masters 1000 titles before turning 21. World number four Medvedev, who was hindered by an ankle injury in their 2023 title clash, got off to a hot start in this one, parlaying a service break into a 3-0 first-set lead.But Alcaraz produced a blazing forehand passing shot to break Medvedev in the fifth game and from there they duelled to the tie-breaker with entertaining rallies spiced by drop shots, volleys and lobs.Alcaraz had fans out of their seats in one rally, when he started to let a lob go by but, seeing it was heading in, managed to reach it and salvage the point. “I’m trying to do that kind of points,” Alcaraz said. “It gives me extra motivation.” Trailing 5-2 in the tie-breaker, Australian Open runner-up Medvedev battled back to 5-5, but Alcaraz claimed the set when the Russian sent a forehand wide and from there he was in complete control.“He managed in the first set at one moment to raise his level,” Medvedev said. “I kind of managed to be there and to try to catch his level, but I was just a little bit down.“In the end, this down was going down, down, down, and he was going up, up, up.“So the result is a fair result for the match that it was. But I’m happy,” Medvedev added. “Last time I managed to (reach the final in Indian Wells) I won Miami – so that’s what I’m going to try to do.”

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