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Qatar Tribune
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar's Ammar wins 400m gold at Asian Athletics
Ammar Ismail Y Ibrahim delivered a sensational performance to win Qatar's first gold medal at the 26th Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, on Wednesday. The Qatari sprinter clocked 45.33 seconds to clinch the men's 400m title, ahead of Japan's Kentaro Sato (45.50) and Sri Lanka's Kalinga Kumarage (45.55). Fellow Qatari Ashraf Hussen M Osman finished seventh in the same race. Elsewhere, Oumar Doudai Abakar set a national record in the 110m hurdles heats to reach the final, while Asraf Amgad Elseify placed fifth in the men's hammer throw with a 69.82m effort. The Qatar Athletics Federation said, Mohammed Issa Al Fadala, President of the Federation, and members of the Federation's Board of Directors, Issa Al Harmi and Thabet Sorour Al Abdullah, celebrate with our champion Ammar Ismail his first gold medal in the Asian Championship.
Qatar Tribune
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
The tailwind tale behind Chopra and Weber's 90m Doha success
Vinay Nayudu Doha On Friday night, the javelin throw event at the Jetour Doha Diamond League meeting threw up amazing action as India's Neeraj Chopra, the reigning world champion, and Germany's Julian Weber breached the 90m mark and became the two latest athletes to join the exclusive 90m club. While Chopra threw his personal best of 90.23m, Weber reached his record distance of 91.06. While two-time world champion Anderson Peters finished third with 85.64m. Their success, however, wasn't just down to raw talent or preparation. A quiet but critical change in the javelin runway direction — made at Chopra's personal request — might have played a decisive role. A day prior to the meet, Qatar Athletics Federation President Mohammed Issa Al Fadala had revealed that this year's change in field setting for the javelin throw was altered specifically for Chopra. 'We have actually changed the javelin throw (area in the field). Usually it is from the southern end of the stadium towards north. Now, we have made it from north to south for him. He wanted this, and so we have obliged,' said Al Fadala. 'So, we agreed on this and we technically also changed many things inside the stadium for him. ' 'I usually meet Neeraj (when he trains) in South Africa and we sit at a table every year. This time he promised me, he would come to Doha because he feels at home here. So, really this was big for us and I knew he was focused on Doha to make a huge throw. 'I know the Indian community and others come and support him. He also visits schools here and the students, the kids, they love to take some photos with him. Neeraj is a new generation sports star. This is also a special year for India because there are four athletes from India who participated in the Doha meeting,' Al Fadala added. The change in direction meant that athletes would run from the northern end of the stadium carrying sea-breeze over them. This was underlined by Weber, who while speaking after the event said there was good backwind speed. 'The backwind here in Doha is great for us javelin throwers, if you make the traveling right and throw a little higher, it just flies great. It's also warm, make you feel relaxed and easy, it all comes into place, said Weber. It was the Olympic gold medallist and reigning world champion Chopra who first set the marker making an Indian record throw of 90.23m on his third attempt and seemed set to end up with the world lead in the Diamond League series but Weber on his sixth and final attempt reached 91.06m. It was a first into the 90m club by both men, who had thrown beyond 89 metres on several occasions in recent years, with their personal bests (PBs) – 89.94m for Chopra and 89.54m for Weber – dating back to 2022. Tonight in the Qatari capital, though, they finally bettered the hallowed barrier, becoming the 25th and 26th men to throw beyond 90 metres. While two-time world champion Anderson Peters finished third with 85.64m. Chopra was overcome with mixed feelings. 'It is a little bit bittersweet result. I am very happy for the 90m, but this second place - it actually happened to me also when I competed in Turku (Finland) and in Stockholm (Sweden). I threw 89.94 and I was always second. And also here. I broke the national record and got second today. But I am very happy also for Julian Weber. He threw 91 so we both broke 90m for the first time today. We have been tying this for so many years, so finally, we managed to get it,' he said. The season-opener for Chopra provides him with huge motivation ahead. 'It was just a first competition of the year so I am confident that at the next competitions, I will throw far. I was very confident today and I expected Julian to get a massive throw as he was very consistent with his attempts. I told him that today is the day when we both can break the 90m mark. It is like a boost for us and we will go far also next time,' said Chopra indicating to a healthy rivalry between the two. Chopra also credited his new coach for the 90m success. 'I feel very good that Jan Zelezny is my coach now and we worked very hard in South Africa. We still work on few points and still learning some things. Normally, he does not go to the Diamond Leagues but he came with me because he told me that today is the day to achieve 90m,' he said. It was just the seventh time in history that two men have thrown beyond 90 metres in the same javelin competition. Weber now moves to 17th on the world all-time list while Chopra sits at 24th. The record for the longest javelin throw in Doha, usually termed as the 'monster' throw, is held by Germany's Thomas Rohler who threw a whopping 93.90m on May 5, 2017. The Jetour Doha Meeting was the third meeting of the 2025 Wanda Diamond League. The series – which started in Xiamen on 26 April – comprises 15 of the most prestigious events in global track and field across four different continents and concludes with a single final across two days in Zurich (27-28 August).
Qatar Living
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Living
Elite track and field stars to compete in the Doha Diamond League today
On Friday evening, all roads in the country will lead to the Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium near the Doha Corniche as it hosts some of the world's best athletes for the third stop of this year's Diamond League event. The Doha Diamond League, an annual event which has grown in stature with each passing year, will showcase the skills of 128 elite athletes, including 45 Olympic and World Championship medallists. Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) President Mohammed Issa Al Fadala emphasised the significance of the event. 'Everyone has been working tirelessly to ensure this edition of the Doha Meeting is a success and continues to reflect Qatar's organisational excellence. Everything is ready to host an unforgettable event,' he said. For the first time in the competition's history, a $5,000 bonus will be awarded to any athlete who breaks a record in their discipline, on top of the $9.24m prize pool spread across the Diamond League season. Fans of track and field will no doubt be looking forward to some key contests in men's 200M, men's high jump, men's javelin, women's steeplechase, women's pole vault and men's discus. For example, the women's 100M will feature Jamaican speed queen Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, one of the most decorated athletes of all time. The global track icon, in her final year of competition, will be keen to give fans a cracker of a competition. The men's high jump field will be spearheaded by New Zealand's reigning Olympic champion Hamish Kerr and Qatar's very own triple world championship gold medal winner and former Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim. Kerr won the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships with a national record and Oceania best of 2.36M, upgrading his 2022 bronze. He matched that height in Paris, winning Olympic gold after a jump-off. He finished second at the 2025 World Indoors in China following a series of early season victories in New Zealand. Barshim, who finished third in Paris, is also a two-time Olympic silver medallist (2012 and 2016). A true championship performer, he won an unprecedented third successive global title with victory at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene 2022. India's Olympic javelin silver medallist Neeraj Chopra is another big name to look forward to. The reigning world and Asian Games champion will be appearing in Doha for the third consecutive time. Chopra, India's national record holder with a best of 89.94M, has a massive following in Qatar. Although finishing runner-up to Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem in Paris 2024, Chopra delivered the second-best throw of his career (at the time) with 89.45M. Many of the athletes will use the Doha meet to test their form ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo in September. --- Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content. Instagram - @qatarliving X - @qatarliving Facebook - Qatar Living YouTube - qatarlivingofficial
Qatar Tribune
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
QAF reveals comprehensive plans for Jetour Doha Diamond League meeting
Tribune News Network Doha The Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) has revealed the comprehensive plans for the much-anticipated Doha Meeting 2025, the third stop on this year's Diamond League calendar. The event will be held on Friday at Suhaim Bin Hamad showcasing 128 elite athletes, including 45 Olympic and World Championship medalists. During the official press conference on Wednesday, QAF President Mohammed Issa Al Fadala, and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, emphasised the significance of the event. 'Everyone has been working tirelessly to ensure this edition of the Jetour Doha Meeting is a success and continues to reflect Qatar's organizational excellence. Everything is ready to host an unforgettable event,' said Al Fadala. 'We have also renewed our commitment to sustainability this year, building on our federation's ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management obtained in 2023. This responsibility pushes us to deliver an event that lives up to Qatar's reputation. 'The presence of so many world and Olympic medalists is proof of the athletes' desire to compete at the highest level as they prepare for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September. Many are aiming to break personal bests or set new records to test their readiness.' He added that this year's edition will be exceptional, as four major events will be held on the same day:The Diamond League Meeting; The newly approved West Asia One-Day Championship; The National Teams Championship; and The Schools Championship. Record prize For the first time in the competition's history, a $5,000 bonus will be awarded to any athlete who breaks a record in their discipline, on top of the $9.24m prize pool spread across the Diamond League season. 'The presence of so many world and Olympic medalists is proof of the athletes' desire to compete at the highest level,' Al Fadala noted, adding that many will use the meet to test their form ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo this September. This year's edition is particularly noteworthy, as four major events will be held on the same day: the Doha Meeting, the West Asia One-Day Championship, the National Teams Championship, and the Schools Championship. 'This year's edition will be exceptional,' Al Fadala added. QAF Secretary General and Tournament Director Essa Al Harami underlined the event's competitive depth. 'The participation of 45 Olympic and World Champions highlights the caliber of the event. We are expecting unprecedented levels of competition.' Sustainability is also at the heart of this year's planning. Sheikha Al Sahli, Chair of the Sustainability Committee, said: 'Receiving the sustainability certification has increased our responsibility to uphold these international standards. The organizing committee has been fully committed to implementing sustainable practices throughout the event. 'These initiatives include using Jetour electric vehicles for transport, metro trips, tree planting at schools and the athlete hotel, and recycling paper used during the event. We also aim to recycle 50,000 plastic bottles and raise student awareness about the importance of sustainability and its role in protecting the environment.' Initiatives include tree planting, use of electric vehicles, and the recycling of 50,000 plastic bottles. Salah Al Saadi, Chair of Venues and Operations Committee, said, 'The Suhail bin Hamad Stadium at Qatar SC is fully prepared to host the Jetour Doha Meeting and the three additional championships. Qatar SC has become the preferred venue for world-class athletes. We've completed all preparations, including dedicated entrances for spectators, VIPs, VVIPs, and media, and held several meetings with security authorities to refine crowd control plans. As part of the experience, surrounding restaurants will be converted into a fan zone, offering a complete entertainment package for spectators.'
Qatar Tribune
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Sheikh Joaan attends What Gravity Challenge
DOHA: P resident of the Qatar Olympic Committee HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani attended part of the competitions of the second edition of What Gravity Challenge, held at the Katara Amphitheater on Friday. The event featured a stellar lineup of world and Olympic high jump champions, including several Olympic medalists such as Shelby McEwen and Hamish Kerr. For the first time, the championship also welcomed some of the sport's leading women athletes, including Ukrainian world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Australia's Eleanor Patterson, and Germany's Christina Honsel. The event was also attended by Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain; President of the Asian Athletics Association Dahlan Al Hamad; President of the Qatar Athletics Federation Mohammed Issa Al Fadala; and General Manager of Katara Cultural Village Dr Khalid Al Sulaiti, along with a number of prominent sports figures.
