400M hurdler Samba and 400M runner Haroun lead Qatar’s hopes on the track
Although Qatar’s handball and volleyball teams have been doing well at the 2018 Asian Games, medals have been quite hard to come by.
Except for a bronze medal by double trap shooter Hamad Ali Al Marri, the country has failed to garner any other medals.
But all that is likely to soon become a distant memory as Qatar’s track and field stars go out to compete at the Geloa Bung Karno Stadium starting today.
Over the years, track and field have been quite kind to Qatar. Four years ago, at Incheon, South Korea, six of the country’s 10 gold medals had come from athletics.
Although three of those gold medal winners — Sprinter Femi Ogunode, middle-distance runner Mohamed Al Garni and high jump world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim — are not in Indonesia due to injuries, the country still has enough firepower to do well.
Abderrahman Samba, who has had a stellar season this year in 400m hurdles and 400M flat specialist Abdalelah Haroun will spearhead Qatar’s campaign at the 2018 Asian Games, reported Gulf Times.
Samba, who recently became only the second man in history after 1992 Barcelona Olympics champion Kevin Young to go under 47sec, is a fiery gold medal prospect.
Samba is totally focused on the “most important event of my life after the World Championships” and his coach Hennie Kotze is busy preparing him for it.
“The world title and a possible world record are all part of our plan but the immediate focus is the Asian Games. This is his first Asian Games and he’s completely focused on the job at hand. He’s a great athlete to coach as he’s very receptive to my methods,” Kotze was quoted as saying by Gulf Times.
Samba himself was cherishing the prospect of the race.
“I’m really excited to be in Indonesia. Staying with the other athletes at the Athletes Village has been a new experience for me and I’m relishing every moment of it,” he said.
Qualification for the 400M hurdles will begin tomorrow with the final slated for Monday.
Haroun, who finished third at the IAAF World Championships in London last year, is the fastest 400 metres sprinter in Asia this season.
Mohamed Nasir Abbas, who has the third best time in the world this season, is also expected to do well, reported The Peninsula.
Meanwhile, 2015 Asian Athletics Championship silver medallist and double World Junior champion hammer thrower Ashraf El Seify will also target gold.
In Decathlon, Qatar’s challenge will be led by Mohammed Al Mannai today.
High Jumper Mahamat Hamdi will try to fill in for Barshim’s absence. Rania Alnaji will do her best in women’s hammer throw.
