DOHA: Qatari high jumper Mutaz Barshim delighted a home crowd at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Doha on Friday, taking gold with a leap of 2.35-metres.
It was the fourth time that the 24-year-old — who will be Qatar’s biggest hope in Rio later this year of claiming the Gulf country’s first ever Olympic gold medal — has won the indoor crown at these championships.
Barshim also went agonisingly close to setting a championship best of 2.40m, brushing the bar with his final attempt.
But the local hero, who was born in Doha, said the win rather than the record was the most important thing.
“The goal today was the gold. I am really happy with 2.35m, it’s a good height,” he said.
“I am not disappointed (at not breaking the record). I just gave it a shot, it was good.”
In second place was Syria’s Majededdin Ghazal, jumping a height of 2.28m.
In the men’s 60m, Iran secured gold and silver, with Hassan Taftian in first place with a time of 6.56secs. Compatriot Reza Ali Ghasemi was second in 6.66secs.
In the women’s long jump, Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan, who took triple jump gold at the 2012 Olympics, was beaten into third place, with India’s Maookha Johny taking top spot with a jump of 6.35m.
Also on Friday, China’s Li Ling regained the pole vault crown she previously won in 2012, setting a championship record of 4.70m in the process. She beat her countrywoman Ren Mengqian into second place, who vaulted 4.30m.
Other winners on Friday included the UAE’s Bethlem Desalegn, who took first place in the women’s 1500m, with a time of 4.21.65.
Bahrain’s Tigist Gashaw Belay was second, with Sugandha Kumari of India in third.
Friday was the opening day of the championships, which last until February 21.
