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Friday, December 05, 2025 | Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.

Tag Results for "World Athletics Championships" (14 articles)

(From L) US' athlete Kayla White, US' athlete Christian Coleman, US' Sha'carri Richardson, US' Noah Lyles, US' Twanisha Terry, US' Courtney Lindsey, US' Kenneth Badnarek and US' Melissa Jefferson-Wooden celebrate winning the men's and women's 4x100m finals during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo Sunday. AFP
Sport

Lyles and Jefferson-Wooden lead US to sprint relay double

The United States finished the world championships in style as Noah Lyles and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden completed memorable individual weeks by helping their country to emphatic golds in both 4x100m relays in driving rain Sunday.Jefferson-Wooden became the second woman to sweep all three sprint titles at one World Athletics Championships.The 24-year-old, who won the 100-200m double in Tokyo, helped the United States to a lead at the last exchange and Sha'Carri Richardson brought the baton home in 41.75 seconds."I did what I wanted to do individually, and then came back together with my girls, my training partners, and we were all able to walk away with the gold," said Jefferson-Wooden."It's crazy to be going home with three gold medals. I added my name to the history books once again. I am right where I want to be."Jamaica finished second in 41.79 to send sprint queen Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, whose 2013 sweep Jefferson-Wooden emulated, into retirement with a 17th world championship medal."I'm grateful for the opportunity that I got once more to represent my country and to walk away with a silver medal," said the 38-year-old, who won 10 world and three Olympic sprint titles over her glittering career."I'm excited to have done it with a young team that is coming up, and I'm hoping that I would have done my part to just add some inspiration or some outlook for them."Germany came third in 41.87 for bronze on the back of a blistering final leg from Gina Lueckenkemper to see off Britain, who finished fourth in 42.07.In the men's race, the final track event of what has been a fantastic nine days of action, the U.S. were slick in their handovers despite the testing conditions.Kenny Bednarek got a gold to cheer him up after yet another silver in the 200m, but it was Lyles taking the spotlight again as he brought them home in 37.29 for his second gold after he won a fourth successive 200 following his bronze in the 100."We all know we are the fastest. We just had to get the baton from start to finish," Lyles said."I saw the lead we had and it was a kind of a relief as everybody did such a great job. I just had to finish the race. They made it easy for me. I could not have asked for a better relay."Fast-finishing Canada took silver in 37.55, with the Netherlands delighted to take bronze in a national record 37.81.With the men's discus outstanding, due to rain delays, the U.S. sit top of the medal table with 16 gold, five silver and five bronze. Kenya are second with seven golds, while a record 50 countries have won a medal.

Gold medallist Kenya's Beatrice Chebet celebrates with silver medallist Kenya's Faith Kipyegon after winning the final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Saturday. REUTERS
Sport

Kenya's Wanyonyi, Chebet deliver for Africa at the worlds

Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Beatrice Chebet made it a memorable night for Kenya at the world championships as they produced outstanding performances to win the men's 800 metres and women's 5,000m respectively.Just over a year ago the duo left Paris as Olympic champions, while Chebet won both the 5,000 and 10,000m golds. In front of over 58,000 spectators at Japan's National Stadium, she achieved the same feat, beating her idol Faith Kipyegon to become only the third woman to do the distance double at a world championships.Wanyonyi's blisteringly fast race was watched by retired Kenyan 800m legend David Rudisha, who sat beside another man who knows a thing or two about the two-lap race, two-time Olympic silver medallist and World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe.Rudisha produced one of the all-time great Olympic performances when he broke the world record to win gold at the 2012 London Games. There was never any question of that happening in Saturday's final, Wanyonyi winning in a championship record time of 1min 41.86sec.However, Rudisha has all but anointed the 21-year-old former cattle herder as the man most likely to set a new record. "Maybe I will start to think about the world record," Wonyonyi said. "I also want to win gold in Los Angeles in 2028. That's the biggest goal. I met David Rudisha Saturday. He told me just to take a rest and focus, and everything is possible."Chebet enjoys a close friendship with Kipyegon, who is six years her senior, but on the track she is not over-awed by one of the legends of athletics. Indeed Chebet has every chance of being accorded similar status, given her increasingly impressive gold medals tally.Kipyegon, despite her disappointment at failing to repeat her world 1,500m/5000m double from the 2023 Budapest championships, embraced Chebet warmly at the finish. "Going home with two gold medals makes me really happy," said Chebet. "Me and Faith have been friends for a long time. We motivate each other and I am really pleased with our performances."Kipyegon, who retained the 1,500m title earlier in the week, said Chebet "is the best". "I'm now going to have some sleep and go back home and enjoy some time with my daughter," she added.The women's 4x100m relay final Sunday may come to be remembered more for the handing over of the baton from 38-year-old Jamaican legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to the new queen of the sprints, America's Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. However, Fraser-Pryce will hope to bow out after almost two decades at the top by denying Jefferson-Wooden a third gold medal, which would equal her achievement in Moscow in 2013.The USA men's 4x100m relay teams have gained a reputation down the years for fouling up baton exchanges – the latest example came at the Olympics last year.This time though it was not them but their great rivals Jamaica who came up short as Ryiem Forde's handover to 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson on the anchor leg went awry. The two did not exchange a word as they walked the 90 metres or so to the line in a heat won by Olympic champions Canada.Anna Hall exchanged world silver for gold in the heptathlon, but it was Kate O'Connor's performance that caught the eye as the 24-year-old took silver, a first ever in the event for Ireland. In fact, it was just Ireland's seventh medal in championships history and their first since 2013. "I knew that I was always going to be in with a shot of a medal," said the Northern Ireland-born O'Connor. "But it's the one thing being in with a shot and another actually going out and doing it."Caio Bonfim will be bringing a gold medal home to Brazil, winning the men's 20km walk after finishing second in the 35km walk last Saturday. However, the 34-year-old will be returning home without one item he left Brazil with. "I lost my wedding ring in the third kilometre. I believe my wife will be OK because I won today," he said.Ecuador's Juleisy Angulo surprised even herself by launching the javelin 65.12 metres with the second of her six attempts to clinch gold. Angulo was ranked 31st in the world coming into the final and her winning throw beat her previous personal best by 1.87 metres."My goal here was to reach the final so I am very emotional, in shock. I still can't believe it," the 24-year-old said. "I have dreamed of a world medal since I started athletics. I have faced some adversities, such as two surgeries in my left knee, but I persevered. I never gave up."Angulo's medal was a first at the world championships for Ecuador away from race-walking since Alex Quinonez won a bronze in the 200 metres six years ago in Doha.While Angulo set out her stall early, Latvian Anete Sietina saved her best until last with a personal best of 64.64m on her final throw of the night to clinch silver.While the top two were first-time medallists at global championships, Australia's Mackenzie Little won a second successive world bronze medal after her opening throw of 63.58m was beaten by only Angulo and Sietina.

(From L) Qatar's Ismail Doudai Abakar, Qatar's Abderrahman Samba, Qatar's Bassem Hemeida and Qatar's Ammar Ismail Yahia Ibrahim react after the men's 4x400m relay heats during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Saturday. AFP
Sport

Qatar qualify for 4x400m relay final at World Championships for first time

Qatar's 4x400m relay team reached the final for the first time in history at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Saturday.The quartet of Abderrahman Samba, Yahya Ibrahim, Bassem Hemieda and Ismail Daoud clocked a national record of 3:00.15 secs to finish second in the heats. South Africa topped the heats in 2:58.81 secs, while Netherlands also advanced from the same heat with a season-best 3:00.23 secs.Samba expressed delight at the team’s achievement, stressing that Qatar competed as a united group with a clear strategy to conserve energy for the final. He underlined the team’s determination to fight for a medal despite the tough competition. Samba had earlier won bronze in the 400m hurdles, the second of his career.

US' athlete Noah Lyles celebrates with his medal and country's flag after winning in the men's 200m final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Friday. AFP
Sport

Trio of titles on a golden night for USA at world championships

There must be something special about the Japanese air for American sprinters as Noah Lyles and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden swept the 200 metres world titles in Tokyo, emulating Tyson Gay and Allyson Felix in Osaka 18 years ago. Rai Benjamin's win in the men's 400m hurdles – adding the world title to the Olympic gold he won last year – made it a special night for track and field powerhouse United States.Lyles had to battle to get his head in front, but the showman with the dyed-blond locks managed it handsomely and secured a fourth successive 200m crown to emulate Usain Bolt. For the 28-year-old, who raised his arms to the heavens and then let out a mighty roar when his name was announced before the start, his feelings were the polar opposite to how he felt after winning Olympic bronze in Tokyo in 2021."At that time I was depressed, but this time I am energised," said Lyles, who went over and hugged his mum Keisha Caine Bishop. "My face is blasted all over Tokyo. This is amazing and such a joyous moment I am going to keep with me forever."In contrast 100m champion Jefferson-Wooden coasted to victory, becoming the first double champion since another Jamaican sprint icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in Moscow in 2013. "I am now looking forward to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics," the 24-year-old said. "I definitely put a target on my back."The women's 400m hurdles race lacked the drama of the men's – it was already without its superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who had instead swept to an imperious victory in the flat 400m on Thursday – with Femke Bol of the Netherlands retaining the title. Bol can only beat what is in front of her and she did that with aplomb as the Dutchwoman blazed home in 51.54sec, ahead of American Jasmine Jones and Slovakia's Emma Zapletalova. "This means the world to me," said the 25-year-old. "At these world championships I had to keep my title. I am proud of myself and my team for doing it."Bol admitted that Olympic champion and world record holder McLaughlin-Levrone probably would have beaten her. The race was notable for the absence of McLaughlin-Levrone, who chose not to compete in the hurdles in the Japanese capital so she could concentrate on the 400m flat race."I most likely wouldn't be here with the gold medal but I really love to race her," said Bol. "She's the best athlete to ever do it in my event so I would have loved to do it, but I also love to see her do so well in the 400 metres."Bol's win marked the end of another successful season after completing an incredible sixth Diamond League campaign unbeaten. But she has not fared as well in her infrequent match-ups with McLaughlin-Levrone, who beat her into third place on the way to gold at last year's Paris Olympics. Bol's first world title, in Budapest two years ago, also came without having to beat McLaughlin-Levrone, who missed the competition through injury.McLaughlin-Levrone hinted on Thursday that she could attempt a remarkable 400m hurdles-flat double at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Bol said she would "love to see her do both". "If she feels physically ready for that, that would be amazing to see because I think if someone could pull it off, it would be her," she said.If anything the most drama occurred in a sandpit involving a hop, skip and a jump – the men's triple jump final. Italy's Andrea Dallavalle livened up a competition that had not really caught fire by snatching the lead with his sixth and final effort – a personal best of 17.64 metres.However, Portugal's long-time leader Pedro Pichardo reacted in the best possible way and with the last jump of the final, 17.91m, he regained the lead and won gold -- in the same stadium where he won the Olympic title four years ago.Four years ago Norway were on a crest of an Olympic wave in track and field as Karsten Warholm and Jakob Ingebrigtsen won gold. Warholm broke the 400m hurdles world record that scorching hot day in Tokyo, and his celebration was one of the iconic moments of those Games.On Friday he was far from his best, hitting the third hurdle, and slumped to the ground at the finish, putting his hand to his face. Ingebrigtsen won the 1,500m Olympic title in 2021, but only sneaked into 5,000m final by the skin of his teeth."I am not myself," he said. "I don't have any idea what I am going to do in the final. I will try my best. Can it be a medal for Norway? I don't know, maybe. We will see."

Gulf Times
Sport

​​​​​​​Qatar's Samba wins bronze at Tokyo World Athletics Championships

Qatar's Abderrahman Samba won bronze in the 400m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Friday. He clocked 47.06 seconds to finish behind USA's Rai Benjamin, who added world gold to his Olympic crown in Paris last year.**media[358722]**Brazil's Alison Dos Santos added silver to the gold he gained in 2022. Samba returned to the world podium for the first time since Doha in 2019, when he also claimed bronze.Benjamin managed to maintain his momentum, despite knocking down the final barrier, and dipped to victory in 46.52 secs to hold off dos Santos, who clocked 46.84 secs. Dos Santos and Samba both passed defending champion Karsten Warholm of Norway in the closing stages, as did Ezekiel Nathaniel, who clocked a Nigerian record of 47.11 to pip him into fifth place and move to 10th on the world all-time list.

Portugal's Isaac Nader (L) reacts after winning as Kenya's Reynold Cheruiyot and Britain's athlete Jake Wightman fall crossing the finish line in the men's 1500m final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Wednesday. AFP
Sport

Nader pulls off shock in 1,500 metres, Moon rises to pole vault challenge

The beauty of sport is its ability to surprise and Isaac Nader produced one of the biggest ever in international 1,500 metres finals as he won the world title Wednesday while Katie Moon was a more predictable winner of a third successive pole vault crown.Portugal had never had a medallist in the 1,500m but Nader's storming run in the home straight was enough for the 24-year-old to deny Jake Wightman of Britain a second title. "Some people criticised me and said I would never achieve this but here I am – world champion and the first Portuguese athlete to win a global gold in the 1,500m," said a beaming Nader.While Wightman celebrated his silver after an injury-plagued three years since he won the title in 2022, there was misery for reigning champion Josh Kerr after the Briton was left hopping along midway through the race, apparently with an injury.Even at 34, Moon is pretty much unbeatable in an event that has failed to match the heights of the men's event in which Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis broke the world record for the 14th time in Tokyo. Moon triumphed with a best vault of 4.90 metres, a considerable 16 centimetres shy of the world record set by Yelena Isinbayeva 16 years ago."It feels fun watching girls getting in shape in real life," said Moon. "I am 34 now and I have seen several athletes come in young and blossom. All my medals are special but this one is the one. The older you get, it gets harder."The men's long jump went to Italian Mattia Furlani, 20, who confirmed his Olympic bronze last year was no fluke with a winning effort of 8.39m. Defending champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece was totally out of sorts and finished 11th.One lesson to be learned is beware Kenyan women distance athletes called Faith. Faith Kipyegon romped to the 1500m title on Tuesday and Wednesday it was the turn of Faith Cherotich to triumph in the 3,000m steeplechase.Femke Bol has had the misfortune to compete in the 400m hurdes at a time when the phenomenon that is Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has been around.McLaughlin-Levrone, though, has turned her attention to the 400m flat and is favourite to add that world title to her tally Thursday.Bol, three times a minor medallist behind the American, can take advantage of her absence to retain her world crown, just as she did in the 2023 championships. Bol had far too much pace in her semi-final for former Olympic and world champion Dalilah Muhammad, who at 35 is 10 years older than the Dutchwoman.The climax to the men's event is a rematch of the three medallists from the 2021 Olympic final in Tokyo. Karsten Warholm, who set a memorable world record on that scorching day, takes on runner-up Rai Benjamin, who avenged that defeat in winning Olympic gold in Paris last year, with bronze medallist, 2022 world champion Alison dos Santos, completing the trio.The stage is set for perhaps the most keenly awaited clash in the field events, the men's javelin final Thursday, between Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan and the man he deposed in Paris last year India's Neeraj Chopra. However, the script came close to being torn up by Nadeem until he saved face in qualifying with his third and final throw.Chopra feels right at home in the stadium where he won Olympic gold four years ago, albeit with empty stands owing to Covid restrictions. "That Olympic gold medal changed everything for me," he said. "After winning it, I started to believe in myself."Nadeem may have pulled it out of the fire but it was not the case for another Olympic champion, Spanish triple jumper Jordan Diaz. The 24-year-old's dream of a full house of titles, he is also European champion, ended, as he pulled up with a quadriceps injury in qualifying.All the favourites in the men's and women's 200m – in which Melissa Jefferson-Wooden is bidding to become the first to achieve the individual sprint double since Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 2013 – eased into semi-finals.Joining them is 17-year-old Australian Gout Gout, of whom great things are expected. The Australia-born son of South Sudanese parents took his first experience of a global championships in his long stride. "It's a great experience for me, running against the big dogs," said Gout. After the action was followed by big crowds early in the champions, Wednesday's action attracted just shy of 36,000, leaving thousands of empty seats.

Qatar's athlete Ismail Doudai Abakar celebrates after competing in the men's 400m hurdles semi-final. AFP
Sport

Abakar, Samba qualify for 400m hurdles final, Hemeida misses out

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 of the US crosses the finish line to win her heat. REUTERS
Sport

McLaughlin-Levrone smashes US 400m record in world semi-final

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."

Kenya's Faith Kipyegon celebrates with her gold medal and a Kenya flag alongside silver medallist Kenya's Dorcus Ewoi and Bronze medallist Australia's Jessica Hull after winning the final. REUTERS
Sport

Kipyegon sparkles, Tinch's time away pays off with world gold

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 athlete Seifeldin Heneida Abdesalam competes in the men's pole vault final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, on Monday. AFP
Sport

Qatar’s Samba, Dawood and Hemeida reach 400m hurdles semis

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.

Gulf Times
Sport

Saif soars into pole vault final worlds

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.

Gulf Times
Sport

Qatar announce list of athletes participating in the World Championships in Tokyo

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.