(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
Chinthana Wasala
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The Peninsula
Doha: The Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) yesterday unveiled the six-member Qatar contingent which will take part in the track and field events at the Paris olympics later this month.
Apart from the five athletes who had earlier qualified for the Paris Games, female sprinter Shahad Mohammed has also been included in Team Qatar after receiving a wild card.
Heading the roster in athletics is the reigning Olympic high jump champion Mutaz Barshim, Qatar's top medal prospect at the Games this time.
Clockwise from top left: Aboubakar Haydar Abdallah, Ismail Dawoud, Mutaz Barshim, Bassem Hameida, Abdalrahman Samba and Shahad Mohammed
Barshim, who holds an outstanding record at the global sports extravaganza, secured a gold medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after clearing a height of 2.37 meters as he shared the title with Italian Gianmarco Tamberi in a moment celebrated for his display of sportsmanship and mutual respect.
Barshim, no stranger to the Olympic podium, also boasts a silver medal from the London 2012 Games and another silver from Rio 2016.
Joining Barshim is Aboubakar Haydar Abdallah who will compete in the 800-meter event, making his third appearance at the Olympics, following impressive performances at the Tokyo and Rio Games.
“It is an indescribable feeling to participate in the Olympics for the third time and a great honor to represent the country in the largest sporting event,” Abdallah said in a post shared by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) on its social media.
“Something l am proud of and I aspire to set a new personal record for myself,” Abdallah added.
The team also includes the trio of Asian Champion and two-time Asian Games gold winner Abdalrahman Samba, Bassem Hameida, and Ismail Dawoud, who will compete in the 400-meter hurdles, showcasing Qatar's strength in the one-lap event.
“The Olympics are considered the biggest sporting event in the world, and it's a dream for every athlete. It means a lot to me personally, and this will be my second time participating,” Samba said in a post that appeared on QOC's X handle.
“My ambition is very high to achieve better,” he added.
Hameida said:“Competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics is a huge opportunity to represent my country in the best possible way and to compete with the best athletes in the world and achieve advanced positions.”
The only female athlete in the team, Mohammed whose personal best is 12.79 secs, will be looking to give her best when she makes her Olympic debut in the 100-meter event instead of her pet event, the 400-meter dash.
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