Qatar win men’s 4x400M relay gold in style by setting new Asian record
Curtains came down on track and field competitions of the 2018 Asian Games with the bettering of a long-standing Asian record and runners from Qatar was at the heart of the achievement.
The men’s 4x400M relay team — consisting of Jakarta Asian Games 400M hurdles champion Abderrahman Samba, 400M winner Abdalelah Haroun, Mohamed Nasir Abbas and Mohamed El Nour — clinched gold medal with a time of 3min 0.56sec, according to the official website of the International Association of Athletics Federation.
Samba got his team off to a good start with a 44.5 lead-off leg, while Abbas and El Nour maintained the team’s lead. Haroun anchored the team to victory and in the process obliterated the Qatari record of 3:02.50 set in 2015.
They also took 0.2sec off the Asian record of 3:00.76, set by Japan, at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
India clocked 3:01.85 to secure silver while Japan (3:01.94) were third.
The relay title was the second gold medal for both Samba and Haroun at this Asian Games.
“We did it! We won gold today! I would like to dedicate the win to HH the Emir and HE Sheikh Joaan. We also dedicate it to the people of Qatar. We promise to always fly Qatar’s flag high and make the country proud,” a jubilant Samba said after receiving medals from Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, according to The Peninsula.
HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani presented our athletics team with the Gold medal after winning the 4x400m relay at the @AsianGames2018 #IamQatar@qatarathletics pic.twitter.com/tO6p3gNrlm
— Team Qatar (@qatar_olympic) August 30, 2018
Abbas said the title win did not come as a big surprise for him.
“This was an expected win for the team, we gave our best and performed very well as. I dedicate the win to the people of Qatar and they deserve more,” he said.
El Noor promised there was more to come.
“I’m very happy for the gold medal and Asian record. The promise is in Doha 2019,” he said.
الأدعم يحرز ذهبية سباق ال400x4م تتابع ضمن منافسات دورة الألعاب الآسيوية 2018 #انا_قطر
— Team Qatar (@qatar_olympic) August 30, 2018
Team Qatar wins a Gold medal in the 4x400m race @asiangames2018 #IamQatar @qatarathletics pic.twitter.com/Pm0ccVKHzy
Earlier, Qatar had clinched a silver medal in the form of individual show jumper Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani.
Qatar now have won a total of 12 medals, including five gold, four silver, and three bronze.
Congratulations !
You people did wonderful and remarkable victory after winning a GOLD in Asian Games..
We salute you keeping Qatar Flag up and up always..
Congratulation once again and best of luck for further challenges..