Barshim leads Qatar’s effort as hurdlers poised to make Olympic history

Qatar’s track and field athletes are gearing up for the Paris Games, with Mutaz Barshim leading the charge. Barshim, a high jump superstar, is aiming for his second consecutive gold after sharing the victory in Tokyo three years ago. With the Olympics scheduled to be held from July 26 to August 11, Barshim faces a strong field but has shown improvement in every competition he has participated in this year.
Apart from Barshim, three Qatar athletes – Abderrahman Samba, Bassem Hemeida, and Ismail Doudai Abakar – are set to make history as the first Asian trio from a single nation to qualify for the men’s 400m hurdles at the Olympics. Samba and Hemeida secured their spots in Paris after a 1-2 finish at the Asian Games, while Abakar clocked the qualifying time in South Africa. The trio will face tough competition, including Olympic and world champion Karsten Warholm.
Middle-distance runner Abubaker Haydar Abdalla, a two-time Asian champion, will also compete in the men’s 800m event in Paris after booking his spot with a strong performance in Spain. Qatar Athletics Federation President Mohammed Issa Al Fadala expressed hope for Qatar’s athletes to shine at the Olympics, especially praising the achievement of the 400m hurdlers. Al Fadala emphasized the importance of athletes staying fit and healthy to produce good results.
The 28-year-old Samba, a World Championships bronze medalist, recently returned to action from injury and competed in the Diamond League meet in Stockholm where he clocked a time of 49.69 secs. The trio of Samba, Hemeida, and Abakar will be competing against top athletes like Rai Benjamin and Alison Dos Santos in the men’s 400m hurdles. Qatar’s athletes are aiming to make their mark at the Olympics and hope to secure podium finishes.
Al Fadala also mentioned that two more athletes may join the five already qualified athletes. He expressed his delight at the achievement of the hurdlers, highlighting the historic moment of three Asian athletes representing one country in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Olympics. Qatar’s athletes are training hard and are focused on delivering strong performances in Paris. With a strong team of athletes and dedicated support from the Qatar Athletics Federation, the country is hopeful for success at the upcoming Olympics.
In conclusion, Qatar’s track and field stars are set to make a mark at the Paris Games, with Mutaz Barshim leading the medal hopes. The trio of Abderrahman Samba, Bassem Hemeida, and Ismail Doudai Abakar are aiming to create history as the first Asian trio from a single nation to compete in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Olympics. With support from the Qatar Athletics Federation and high hopes for podium finishes, Qatar’s athletes are determined to showcase their talent on the international stage. As the countdown to the Olympics continues, all eyes will be on Qatar’s track and field stars as they strive for success in Paris.