Qatar’s Ismail Doudai Abakar recently made headlines with his outstanding performance in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Diamond League meeting in London. Despite running in lane 8, Abakar managed to smash his personal best by nearly a second, clocking an impressive 47.72 seconds. This achievement has significantly boosted Qatar’s hopes in the one-lap event at the upcoming Paris Games. Abakar’s third-place finish in a field that included former world champion Alison dos Santos has solidified his position as a strong contender for the Olympics.
The 20-year-old athlete expressed his excitement after the race, stating, “That was a huge PB for me so I am very excited now for Paris. I knew I could do it and now I can go there and I really feel I can get to the final. To take this much off my PB puts me really in the right place for the Olympics.” The winner of the event was Santos, the 2022 world champion and bronze medallist in Tokyo, with a time of 47.18 seconds. Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke finished second with a season-best time of 47.63 seconds, ahead of Abakar.
Following Abakar in the race were Kyron McMaster from the British Virgin Islands in fourth place with 47.81 seconds, and France’s Wilfried Happio in fifth place with 48.26 seconds. The men’s 400m hurdles event also featured CJ Allen of the USA, Gerald Drummond of Costa Rica, and Great Britain’s Alastair Chalmers. Abakar, whose previous personal best was 48.68 seconds achieved in South Africa, is now preparing for the one-lap hurdles event at the Stade de France along with Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba and Bassem Hemeida.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Olympic hero Mutaz Barshim withdrew from the Diamond League meeting due to technical issues. Barshim, aiming for a fourth medal in the high jump at the Olympics, cited a lack of space and technical mistakes by the organizers. Despite his disappointment, Barshim remains focused on the upcoming Olympics where he will compete in the high jump qualifying round on August 7. Barshim, who holds the second-highest jump of all time, is determined to perform at his best in the iconic Stade de France.
In Barshim’s absence, world indoor champion Hamish Kerr won the men’s high jump in London with a 2.30-meter mark. Barshim’s withdrawal serves as a reminder of the challenges and uncertainties that athletes face in the lead-up to major competitions. As Qatar’s athletic talents continue to shine on the global stage, all eyes are now on the upcoming Paris Games where Abakar and Barshim will represent their country in their respective events. The Qatar Olympic team is poised to make a strong impact and showcase the talent and determination of its athletes on the world stage.
