(MENAFN- The Peninsula) fawad hussain |
The Peninsula
Qatar's most accomplished sportsman Mutaz Barshim is gearing up for a busy season this year setting sights on topping every event that comes on his way.
The men's high jump superstar, who is the reigning Olympic and world champion, will begin his season when Qatar will host the West Asia Athletics Championships at the Qatar Sports Club from April 26 to 29.
“It's a long season and my preparation has been fine,” Barshim told The Peninsula in an interview.
“At the moment, I'm fat. I need to lose about three kilos, but it will be fine,” the 31-year-old added.
The West Asia Athletics Championships will be the start of a long season as Barshim will then set sights on the fourth Diamond League trophy when the season will begin in Doha on May 5.
Last year, Barshim missed the Diamond League trophy after finishing at disappointing sixth place in the Diamond League final in Zurich in September with his Italian friend Gianmarco Tamberi claiming his second successive title.
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“This is not how I hoped to finish the season,” Barshim had said at the end of the meet.
But winning the Diamond Trophy, which he won in 2014, 2015 and 2017 seasons, will not be the only aim for the lanky Qatari athlete as he aims for the fourth successive World Championships title in Budapest in August.
Last year Barshim soared to world high jump gold at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 at the Hayward Field in Eugene, United States completing his golden hat-trick after his triumphs at London 2017 and Doha 2019.
Barshim said he would also compete at the Asian Games that is scheduled to be held in Chinese city of Hangzhou from September 23 to October 8, 2023. He has won two gold medals in the multi-sport event – the Guangzhou 2010 and Incheon 2014 Games.
“It's a long season as there is a lot to come and I am looking forward to it,” he said.
The Qatari high jumper famously shared Olympic gold medal with Tamberi at Tokyo Olympics after the pair decided against the jump off as both cleared 2.37m.
Asked about what will be his target for next year's Paris Olympics, Barshim, who also won two Olympic silver medals before his Tokyo triumph, replied:“I want to win everything. That's is my plan. It's been like this always.”
Besides claiming top honours in Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games and the Diamond League, Barshim has won multiple medals in other major competitions. The list includes six Asian Indoor gold medals (from 2010-2018), one World Military Games gold (Rio 2011), and Pan Arab Games gold (2011 Doha) besides world junior and Asian junior gold medals in 2010.