Mutaz Barshim, photo by PhotoRun.net
Derek Drouin, photo by PhotoRun.net
Zhang Guowei, photo by PhotoRun.net
Barshim vs Drouin and Zhang
DOHA (QAT): Mutaz Essa Barshim and Abdalelah Haroun will be competing on home soil at the first leg of the IAAF Diamond League series in Doha on 6 May. Barshim will face the likes of world champion Derek Drouin, world silver medallist Zhang Guowei, Olympic medallists Erik Kynard and Robbie Grabarz and former world champion Donald Thomas in the high jump while Haroun takes on former Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt, Isaac Makwala, Youssef Al-Masrahi and world junior champion Machel Cedenio in the 400m. Kenyans Asbel Kiprop, Silas Kiplagat and Elijah Manangoi have been confirmed in the 1500m along with Djibouti’s Ayanleh Souleiman and Ethiopia’s Aman Wote. Asian indoor champion Musaeb Abdulrahman Balla starts among the favourites in the non-Diamond League 800 m. “I believe that all these early announcements show that we will not let down the athletics fans and that the meeting will be once more of a very high calibre with top athletes competing,” said Qatar Athletics Federation President Major General Dahlan Al Hamad.
