Global Courant 2023-05-06 08:01:22
Doha, Qatar – Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic men’s javelin champion, made his Doha Diamond League debut in style by winning the match in Qatar’s capital.
India’s Chopra set a world record of 88.67 meters in his first throw of the javelin final on a windswept moonlit Friday night in a packed Qatar Sports Club stadium.
The 25-year-old had set his sights on breaking the elusive 90-meter barrier at the season-opening World Athletics track and field competition.
“Doha is known for throwing 90 meters and hopefully tomorrow will be a great result for everyone,” Chopra told reporters on Friday. However, unusually high winds got in the way of Chopra and other competitors as they repeatedly struggled to get past 85 yards.
Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic finished second with a record of 88.63 metres, while Grenadian world champion Anderson Peters finished third with a record of 82.62 metres.
Back to winning ways
Olympic and @Diamond_League champion @Neeraj_chopra1 throws a world record of 88.67 m and wins the men’s javelin throw @dldoha #DiamondLeague #DohaDL pic.twitter.com/l5DBeEvdZ0
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) May 5, 2023
The wind did not hinder Sha’Carri Richardson’s fiery 10.76 second sprint in the women’s 100m. The American sprinter was visibly delighted with the result as she beat the best time of 10.82 seconds set by Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, who finished second in 10.85 seconds. Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith (10.98 seconds) was third.
Richardson’s elaborate celebrations – complete with screams, dreadlock movements and hopping down the track – endeared her to the crowds close to the finish line.
After the race, the 23-year-old said: “I have found my peace on the track again and I will not let anything or anyone take that away.”
Kenyan fans cheer as their country’s athletes compete in the Doha Diamond League competition in Qatar’s capital on May 5, 2023 (Ibraheem Al Omari/Reuters)
African party in the stands
Qatar’s multinational expatriate community turned out in their thousands to watch what could be the last outdoor sporting event of the season before the country’s typical hot and humid summer kicks off.
More than half of the nearly 15,000 spectators came from Qatar’s African community, with Ethiopia and Kenya leading the way.
Moroccan fans, reminiscing about their presence in the stands during their men’s football team’s glorious run at the FIFA World Cup in December, took up a block of the stadium and turned it red in anticipation of Soufiane El-Bakkali’s run.
Matching the Ethiopian presence in the competition’s track events, the largest contingent of supporters came from Ethiopia. Families turned up in droves as kids of all ages raced down the aisles while older members of the crowd kept their eyes on the track.
Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma, at the front, won the men’s 3,000 meters in a race dominated by his compatriots (Ibraheem Al Omari/Reuters)
Emotions ran high among the Ethiopian public, particularly during the men’s 3,000m race, when Morocco’s El-Bakkali briefly threatened to spoil the East African nation’s celebration. It was not to be and Lamecha Girma (7:26.18) led the top three in Ethiopia with Selemon Barega (7:27.16) and Berihu Aregawi (7:21.61) behind him.
Picking up where she left off
Ruling world and @Diamond_League champion Faith Kipyegon runs a world-leading 3:58.57 to secure victory in the women’s 1500m.#DiamondLeague #DohaDL pic.twitter.com/qjVni2gkQZ
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) May 5, 2023
Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, the reigning world and Olympic champion in the women’s 1500 metres, made her mark in the race despite a close run from Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji. Kipyegon finished with a world time of 3:58.57, while Welteji was second with 3:59.34.
Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim was unable to top the men’s high jump (Ibraheem Al Omari/Reuters)
The disappointment of the hometown hero
There was also no lack of support for host nation’s star athlete Mutaz Barshim. The mere presence and warm-up routines of the Olympic high jump champion were enough to get the crowd excited. Barshim endeared himself to the crowd with his trademark languid walk around the competition grounds and his sunglasses that remain famous even during late-night matches. However, he had a few disappointing jumps and finished third.
JuVaughn Harrison of the USA won the competition, while Sanghyeok Woo of South Korea finished second.
It’s Full “Moon” here in Doba @ktnago13
Congratulations— Doha Diamond League (@dldoha) May 5, 2023
Moon overcomes ‘mental challenge’
USA’s Katie Moon jumped 4.81m to win the women’s pole vault, a day after admitting that her biggest challenge as an athlete was her own mind.
Moon said during the pre-tournament press conference that pole vaulting is “a very mental sport”.
“It’s easy to believe in yourself when things are going well, but (believing) when you’re struggling a little bit, that’s been the biggest struggle for me so far,” she said.
Other results:
Men’s 200 meters: Fred Kerley (USA)
Men’s 800 meters: Slimane Moula (Algeria)
Women’s 100 meters hurdles: Jasmine Camacho Quin (Puerto Rico)
Men’s triple jump: Pedro Pichardo (Cuba)
Men’s 400 meters hurdles: Rai Benjamin (USA)
Women’s 3,000 meters steeplechase: Winfred Yavi (Bahrain)
Women’s 400 meters: Marileidy Paulino (Dominican Republic)
Men’s discus throw: Kristjan Ceh (Slovenia)
Power and Precision – The Discus Diamond League champion @CehKristjan Congratulations pic.twitter.com/BVg4F3BRKS
— Doha Diamond League (@dldoha) May 5, 2023
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