18th ARAB ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIP FROM TODAY

The 18th Arab Athletics Championship, featuring over 350 athletes from 17 countries, starts here today from 5pm onwards at the Qatar Sports Club.

Announcing details of the key event, Qatar Athletic Federation President Dahlan al-Hamad said, 368 athletes from 17 countries will be participating in the event from May 21 to 24.

This four-day competition gives one last opportunity for the Arab athletes to book a place in the World Championships and the Youth World Championships, to be held in Moscow and Ukraine, respectively, later this year.

“Like the previous events, we are confident that the Arab Athletics Championships to be held this week will be a huge success. It is the oldest event that was started in 1977, in Damascus, and it’s great that we have got the opportunity to be the host nation. We would like to put our best foot forward,” said al-Hamad.

Six of Qatari athletes have qualified for the World Championships and QAF is looking forward to some good results in this event from the athletes to increase that tally.

High-jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim (pictured), who won his event at Saturday’s Diamond League meeting in Shanghai, would be Qatar’s big hope to bring home a gold from Moscow and will be firm favourite here. Barshim won the high-jump event in Shanghai with a jump of 2.33 metres.