Barshim, Samba Spearhead Qatar Squad At Worlds

Doha, Qatar: Qatar will field a formidable 12-man contingent at the upcoming World Athletics Championships, set to take place in Tokyo, Japan.

Team Qatar comprises a mix of seasoned champions and emerging talents, as the athletes strive to make their presence felt on the world's biggest stage of athletics.

Qatar's most celebrated athlete, three-time consecutive gold medalist in the high jump (London 2017, Doha 2019, Eugene 2022) and the bronze winner in Budapest two years ago, Mutaz Barshim will lead the contingent at the one-week track and field gala which kicks off on September 13.

Barshim, the former Olympic champion and current bronze medal holder with the second-highest jump in history (2.43 meters) to his name, will be one of the favourites for the podium this time, while Qatar will have more medal hopes in track events.

After skipping the Diamond League and several international contests and his own What Gravity Challenge in Doha due to recovery from a minor injury and to focus on the Worlds, the 34-year-old made his only appearance this year at the West Asian Clubs Championships at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium in April.

Former World Championships bronze medallist (Doha 2019) Abderrahman Samba, ranked fourth in the world this season, will also aim for a podium position in the men's 400 metres hurdles event, which will see a star-studded line-up that sees Norway's World record holder Karsten Warholm, American Rai Benjamin and Olympic medallist Alison Dos Santos of Brazil.

The three-time Asian Games gold winner Samba proved he is back in serious business ahead of the Worlds when he came second at the Zurich Diamond League Final last month, behind Warholm, who delivered a meet-record run.

Qatar will field two more athletes in the one-lap hurdles event, in the reigning Asian champion, Bassem Hemeida and Ismail Doudai Abakar, boasting a formidable presence in the event.

Hemeida is currently ranked 24th in the world and has shown consistent improvement, while rising star Abakar will also be looking to impress.

In the 400 meters, Ammar Ismail Yahia Ibrahim will represent Qatar. The world No. 31 has a season-best time of 44.90 seconds, has the potential to challenge the fancied contenders.

With plenty of arsenal in their possession, Qatar will also have high hopes on the men's 4 x 400 meters relay team.

The team, which includes the formidable quartet of Ismail Doudai Abakar, Ashraf Hussein, Bassem Hemeida and Ammar Ismail, has the potential to spring a surprise and challenge for a place on the podium.

Ibrahim Abass M Chuot will compete in the 800 meters, while Oumar Doudai Abakar will be looking to make his mark in the 110-meter hurdles.

In the pole vault, Seifeldin Heneida Abdesalam will be in action at the iconic National Stadium in Tokyo, rounding up a star-studded line-up for Qatar.

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