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Qatar's Ismail Abakar and Abderrahman Samba stormed into the final of the men’s 400m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo Wednesday.The 21-year-old Abakar clocked a personal best of 47.61 seconds to finish second in his semi-final behind Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel, who won in 47.47. Asian champion Samba also impressed, producing a season’s best of 47.63 to edge Olympic champion Karsten Warholm (47.72) at the line, after the Norwegian too the foot of the gas.There was heartbreak for another Qatari hurdler Bassem Hemeida, who despite setting a personal best of 48.29 narrowly missed the final as Olympic champion Rai Benjamin comfortably won in 47.95, ahead of Brazil’s Alison dos Santos (48.16). Germany’s Emil Agyekum (47.83) and USA’s Caleb Dean (47.85) also progressed. Samba will be looking to repeat or better his third-place finish at the World Championships 2019 in Doha.Later, Benjamin said he was ready for another "historic" tussle with great rivals Warholm and dos Santos after all three cruised into the final. The trio have dominated the event in recent years, pushing each other to ever greater times and sharing out the global accolades between them.Benjamin prevailed when the trio met at the Paris Olympics last year and he is hoping for another classic tussle in tomorrow's final. "I think it's going to be really fast," said the 28-year-old. "I hope it's historic and I hope I'm on the right side of history this time. Coming out here, you can never be on the wrong side of history."Warholm finished second in his semi-final behind Samba but the Norwegian said it was all part of his strategy. "He could get a first place if he wanted to because honestly I don't care," said Warholm. "I can have an outside lane in the final, it'll be fun."Warholm is coming into the competition in fine form, clocking a time of 46.28sec at the Silesia Diamond League in Poland last month. It was the third fastest time ever run over the distance, topped only by his own world record of 45.94sec and Benjamin's 46.19sec.The Norwegian said he "chilled" for the second half of the semi-final but he would be ready when it counted. "I feel confident of course, being on this track," he said. "But you know, out there you have Dos Santos, you have Rai Benjamin, really good runners, hard workers, and they can challenge."

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone smashed the long-standing United States women's 400 metre record to surge into the final at the World Athletics Championships. The 26-year-old American, who is the world record holder at the 400m hurdles but has chosen to run the flat race in Tokyo, blazed through her semi-final in 48.29sec.That was almost half a second faster than Sanya Richards-Ross's previous US record of 48.70, which had stood since 2006. McLaughlin-Levrone will be the red-hot favourite to capture her first 400m world title in tomorrow's final and said she was "honoured" to better Richards-Ross's national mark."Definitely wasn't expecting that time but it just shows the fitness is there," she said. "Excited for the finals and grateful to have taken down a record by an amazing woman."McLaughlin-Levrone was one of the stars when Tokyo hosted the Covid-delayed Olympic Games in 2021. She set a world record of 51.46sec when winning 400m hurdles gold in one of the stand-out performances of those Games. She was also part of the US 4x400m relay squad that took gold.She said she still had gas left in the tank after her semi-final performance and was taken aback when she looked at her time on the scoreboard. "I wasn't expecting that but it's not surprising because I know the work's been put in," she said. "It's really just about executing and I'm grateful that it showed me that it's there."McLaughlin-Levrone was joined in the semi-finals by Paris Olympics champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, who went through in a time of 49.82. Paris Games silver medallist Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain also qualified along with Poland's Natalia Bukowiecka and Jamaica's Nickisha Pryce.Britain's Amber Anning, who qualified with a second-quickest time of 49.38, said McLaughlin-Levrone would be the woman to beat in the final. "I think she wanted to put herself into a good position going into that final," said Anning. "I just tried to stay with her as much as possible but still execute my race."

Faith Kipyegon cemented her status as an athletics legend Tuesday by winning her fourth world 1500 metres title whilst Cordell Tinch's decision to return to the sport paid off with 110m hurdles gold.The 31-year-old Kipyegon had bad news for those who entertained hopes of winning the 5000m later in the week – the Kenyan is going to try and achieve the double as she did in Budapest in 2023. Tinch was also at those championships two years ago but bowed out in the semi-finals, with Grant Holloway going onto win his third world gold.Tuesday, the roles were reversed as Holloway bowed out in the semis and 25-year-old Tinch took his crown. Not bad for someone who stepped away from the sport and five years ago was selling mobile phones and then worked in a paper factory.Sadly their golden moments were not shared by a full house, with just 37,000 in the National Stadium and that despite Japan having several athletes in action, including two in the high jump final. Just as on Monday so it was Tuesday – New Zealand and Canada won a gold apiece.Despite deafening patriotic cheers for Yuto Seko and Ryoichi Akamatsu, they had pulled on their tracksuits and were mere spectators long before New Zealand's Olympic high jump champion Hamish Kerr had added world championships gold to his collection.Canada's Ethan Katzberg retained the men's hammer title, emulating his teammate Camryn Rogers in the women's event on Monday. The mild-mannered Olympic champion, 23, recorded a new championship best, throwing 84.70 metres in the second round.Some had thought the women's 1500m might see a new generation take over in the shape of Kipyegon's 22-year-old teammate Nelly Chepchirchir. However, Kipyegon put that theory firmly in its place, and just as at the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics she will be bringing something gold back to her daughter."This sport drives me," said Kipyegon, who also set a new world record over the distance in Oregon in July. "I won here in 2021 (at the Olympics) just after becoming a mother, so being back here, winning again, means I can show a new gold medal to my daughter."Tinch's road back to the track was sparked by a jest made at his expense by his stepfather in 2020, but as being the new world champion sank in he had no regrets about the sabbatical. "If I hadn't taken that break from the track, I wouldn't be a world champion now," said Tinch. "Everything I learned at that time away from the sport made me the man I am and a world champion."Kerr is an entertainer and played to the crowd throughout the final, cupping his hands to his ears on the two occasions he went over on the third and final attempt. Once he had sealed victory the Kiwi ran down the infield almost as fast as compatriot Geordie Beamish's finishing winning burst in the 3,000m steeplchase on Monday. "Geordie (Beamish) gave me a kick in my backside after his win last night so I had to win too," said the 29-year-old.Katzberg said he had felt the pressure after Rogers's victory. "I can't ask for much more," he said. "Camryn (Rogers put the pressure on me to perform tonight. It was an incredible performance from her, so for Canada to win the men's hammer tonight as well is amazing."As they absorbed their victories Tinch's teenaged teammate, 800m runner Cooper Lutkenhaus, left the scene but with lessons learned. At 16 years 8 months and 28 days old he became the youngest runner to represent the United States at a world championships. But he finished seventh in his heat. "I did not feel any pressure and I really wanted to come out here and give everything," he said. "Being 16 on the world stage is very exciting. My parents and my family still see me as a 16-year-old kid."Lutkenhaus added he could now go out in Tokyo and have some fun, although reality is also biting. "I still have homework to do on this trip," he admitted.Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone meanwhile showed she could threaten the women's 400m record set four decades ago by Marita Koch. The American, running this event instead of her speciality, the 400m hurdles, practically strolled over the line in her semi-final in 48.29sec. Koch's record is 47.60sec. All eyes will be on tomorrow's final.

Qatar's Abderrahman Samba, Ismail Dawood and Bassem Hemeida all qualified for the semi-finals of the 400m hurdles race at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo Monday.Samba, who bronze in the 2019 worlds in Doha, came in first place in the first heat, recording the best time across the five heats with 48.03 seconds. Dawood followed with a time of 48.34 seconds, while Hemeida clocked 48.43 seconds to secure his place in the next round.The trio will compete in the semi-finals Tuesday in three different races, seeking to qualify for the final. Meanwhile, Seif Mohammed set a new national record with a 5.75m leap, finishing ninth in the Pole Vault final.

Qatar’s Saif Mohammed qualified for the men’s pole vault final at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 Saturday, setting a new Qatar, Gulf, Arab and West Asia record for with a clearance of 5.75m.President of the Qatar Athletics Federation, Mohammed Issa Al-Fadala, hailed the achievement, expressing confidence in Saif’s ability to excel in the final.“The historic achievement of champion Saif Mohammed in pole vault and his record is a source of pride for all Qataris and Arabs. He has not only raised the name of Qatar, but also the flag of the Arabs and Asia in the world’s toughest athletics competitions,” Al-Fadala said.Qatar is competing in Tokyo with 11 athletes. Among the standout entries, Abderrahman Samba, bronze medallist in the 400m hurdles at the 2019 Doha Worlds, returns to the event alongside Bassem Hemeida. The 4x400m relay team will feature Ashraf Hussein, Hemeida, Ismail Daoud, and Ammar Ismail.Omar Dawood lines up in the 110m hurdles while Ammar Ismail, Khaled Hussein, Youssef Abdel Aziz, and Ahmed Haroun will race in the 400m, with Ibrahim Zakaria in the 800m.

High jump icon Mutaz Barshim will headline Qatar’s participation at the IAAF World Championships in Tokyo from September 13 to 21.Barshim has won almost everything the sport has to offer over the past decade, including three world titles, multiple Diamond League crowns, and five Olympic medals – most memorably the gold he shared with Italian rival Gianmarco Tamberi at the Tokyo Games in 2021. Returning to the Japanese capital four years later, the Qatari high jumper will be aiming to extend his dominance with a fourth world crown.The Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) on Monday announced a 12-athlete squad for the championships, featuring Barshim, Abderrahman Samba, Ismail Dawood, Omar Dawood, Bassem Hemeida, Saif Mohammed, Ashraf Hussein, Ammar Ismail, Ibrahim Zakaria, Khaled Hussein, Abdulaziz Youssef and Ahmed Haroun.Samba, who claimed bronze in the 400m hurdles at Doha 2019, will be a key contender again alongside Hemeida, while the 4x400m relay team of Hussein, Hemeida, Dawood, and Ismail is also targeting the podium. The World Championships will gather more than 2,000 athletes from over 200 countries, competing across more than 100 medal events.Barshim, who captured high jump gold in London 2017, Doha 2019, and Eugene 2022, will be aiming for a fourth successive world crown. Samba, a bronze medalist at Doha 2019, will line up in the 400m hurdles alongside Hemeida, while the 4x400m relay team of Hussein, Hemeida, Dawood, and Ismail are also strong contenders for medals.The federation’s statement noted that Saif Mohammed, 23, will make his World Championships debut in the pole vault, while Omar Dawood competes in the 110m hurdles. Ammar Ismail, Khaled Hussein, Youssef Abdulaziz, and Ahmed Haroun will run in the 400m, with Ibrahim Zakaria contesting the 800m.The Tokyo World Championships will bring together more than 2,000 athletes from over 200 countries, competing for more than 100 medals across track and field events.

The Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) has announced the list of athletes who will represent the State of Qatar in the IAAF World Athletics Championships, scheduled to be held in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, from September 13 to 21.The federation published in a statement on its official account on the social networking platform /X/ a list of 12 athletes who will participate in the championship with the aim of achieving success and continuing the excellence of Qatari athletics at the global level. They are: Mutaz Barshim, Abderrahman Samba, Ismail Dawood, Omar Dawood, Bassem Hemeida, Saif Mohammed, Ashraf Hussein, Ammar Ismail, Ibrahim Zakaria, Khaled Hussein, Abdulaziz Youssef, and Ahmed Haroun.It is noteworthy that Olympic and world champion Mutaz Barshim in the high jump won the gold medal in the competition three consecutive times at the London 2017, Doha 2019 and Eugene 2022 editions, while runner Abderrahman Samba is participating in the 400m hurdles race, having previously won the bronze medal in the Doha 2019 edition. Runner Bassem Hemeida is also participating in the same event.The Barshim and Samba duo are the most prominent candidates for colored medals, along with the 4x400m relay team consisting of runners Ashraf Hussein, Bassem Hemeida, Ismail Dawood and Ammar Ismail.The statement added that Saif Mohammed (23 years old) will participate in the pole vault competition in his first appearance at the men's World Championships, in addition to Omar Dawood in the 110m hurdles race, Ammar Ismail, Khaled Hussein, Youssef Abdelaziz and Ahmed Haroun in the 400m race, and Ibrahim Zakaria in the 800m race.The World Championships are held in Tokyo with the participation of more than 2,000 athletes from over 200 countries, competing for more than 100 medals.

Australia’s Olympic and world champion pole vaulter Nina Kennedy has pulled out of this month’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo because of a leg injury.Kennedy, who last year became the first Australian woman to win Olympic gold in a field event, underwent hamstring surgery in April after three strains in six weeks.Despite not having competed since September last year, Kennedy said last week that she was determined to defend her title in Japan on a wildcard.Another injury setback forced her to reassess, however.“Not the news I want to be sharing,” the 28-year-old wrote in an Instagram post Friday.“I’ve strained a muscle in my leg in one of my last sessions before worlds (not near the surgery site, which is a win). I’m sad to say I will be withdrawing from the world championships.“Even though I’m disappointed, I’m proud of myself for trying to get back and put myself in the best position to jump high at worlds. I can genuinely say I did everything I could, I gave it a red-hot crack and that in itself is a measure of success. Sport can be brutal, but injuries are just part of the journey, and that’s okay.”Kennedy cleared 4.90 metres to win the world title in Budapest in 2023, the same height that won her Olympic gold in Paris last year. Her personal best is 4.91m.

Qatari swimmers continued to win medals at the ongoing Arab Aquatics Championships in Morocco. Ali Sayed won gold medal in the 100m butterfly for the general category in 53.77 seconds, while Adam Morsi won gold medal in the 200m breaststroke for 13-14 years old with a time of 2:29.24 secs.Mohamed Mahmoud also won gold in 200m breaststroke in general category clocking 2:20.24secs minutes, and Aziz Ismail claimed bronze in the 100m butterfly race in the 17-18 age group with a time of 56.13 seconds, while Hamza Shaalan won the bronze medal in the same event (2:24.80secs). The 4th Arab Aquatics Championships includes swimming, water polo, and open water swimming events and have a participation of athletes from 19 Arab nations.

The Qatari Paramotor Team, operating under the Qatar Air Sports Committee (QASC), have secured second place, along with the silver medal during their participation in the 12th FAI World Paramotor Championships held in Chambley-Bussieres, France, with 85 pilots representing 16 countries. The Qatari team finished second in the overall ranking for the trike category, behind the French team, which clinched first place, while the Czech team ranked third. Qatari pilots Saad al-Katheri and Zain Kuraib were awarded the bronze medal after finishing third in the individual trike tandem competition, following intense competition among 85 pilots. The Qatari team participated in three disciplines, chiefly Navigation, which focuses on locating specific points and passing through them, Economy (Eco), which tests flying for the longest possible time with a limited amount of fuel, and Precision, which measures the pilot's ability to control the canopy and complete tasks accurately, such as knocking down foam pylons from a set altitude. Strikingly, Qatar currently holds the top position globally, according to the latest paramotor rankings released annually by FAI.

Qatari swimmer Adam Morsi, won the gold medal in the 50-meter breaststroke event for the 13-14 age group, at the 4th edition of the Arab Aquatics Age Group Championships, currently being held in Morocco and running until September 1.Morsi completed the race in 31.23 seconds, setting a new Arab record.Swimmer Mohamed Mahmoud also won the gold medal in the men's 50-meter breaststroke with a time of 28.53 seconds, raising Qatar's tally to three gold medals at the championship.Meanwhile, swimmer Hamza Shaalan claimed the silver medal in the 50-meter breaststroke for the 17-18 age group, finishing in 29.13 seconds.The Qatari relay team also secured a silver medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, clocking a time of 7:55.80 minutes.The championship brings together athletes from 19 Arab countries. It includes competitions in swimming, water polo, and open-water swimming.

The Qatar Athletics Federation has set up a training camp in Narita, Japan, to help national team athletes acclimatise ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.The camp includes qualified track and field athletes and coaching staff, with others expected to join upon meeting qualification standards.The Federation aims to maximise its representation at the event and continue Qatar’s success on the world stage.Top names like Abderrahman Samba, Ammar Ismail, Bassem Hemeida, Ashraf Othman, and Hatem Hamid are already confirmed. More athletes are pursuing qualification through IAAF-sanctioned meets in Europe.The World Championships will take place in Tokyo from 13–21 September 2025, featuring over 2,000 athletes from around 200 countries across the globe.