Doha, – Preparations continue at Qatar Athletics Federation to host the Second Round of WANDA Diamond League 2021 (Doha Round), which will be held at Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium in Qatar SC on Friday.
The Round is expected to see the participation of an elite of stars and legends, who will have fierce competitions to qualify for the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Manager of the Tournament and Board Member of the Qatar Athletics Federation Khalid Rashid Al Marri noted that the Qatari athletics team will participate in 8 races and two competitions.
He noted that the Qatari team will participate in the high jump with world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim, and hammer throw with Ashraf Amjad Al Saifi.
Among the most prominent participations in the Doha Round will be the participation of Kenyan runner Beatrice Chepkoech, the world champion in the 3000-meter hurdles and the world record holder, along with the American Emma Coburn and the German Gesa Felicitas Krause, who finished second and third respectively in the last World Championship held in Qatar in 2019.
Chepkoech has already enjoyed success this year, most notably when achieving a 5k (road) world record in Monaco (14:43) and an indoor personal best for 3000m (8:31.72), both in February. Her 3000m SC world record, also achieved in Monaco (2018), is an incredible 8:44.32.
Krause is the German national record holder in the 3000m SC courtesy of her World Championships bronze medal-winning performance in 2019 (9:03.30). She raced extensively throughout the 2021 indoor season and opened her outdoor season with a 2:05.76 800m in Germany on 21 May. She will compete in her first 3000m SC of the year in Doha as she prepares for her third Olympic Games this summer.
Chepkoech, who finished third over 3000m in the 2020 Wanda Doha Diamond League, said: “I’m looking forward to competing in Doha. It’s the place where I became World Champion. 2021 is a special year with the Olympics coming up and I would like to start my outdoor season in a nice way.”
The Doha Round enjoys a large participation of the stars the game and unprecedented global and local media coverage every year, due to the great facilities provided by the organizing committee of the tournament, and constant keenness on attracting more world champions to come to Doha. (QNA)
Source: Qatar Olympic Committee