22 Feb 2016
Doha, 22 February 2016. From February 19 to 21, elite athletes represented by the Asian Athletics Association took part in the “7th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships” hosted at the Aspire Dome in Doha. Among the 432 athletes representing 37 nations, were a number of Aspire Academy graduates, including Mutaz Essa Barshim and Abubaker Haydar, who put their talents on display in a stunning manner during the competition.
The first day of the Championships started on a high note. Qatar’s Number 1 high jumper and World Champion Mutaz Essa Barshim won a fourth consecutive Asian indoor gold medal, clearing a 2.35m at the Aspire Dome. “I’m so happy I could win a medal in front of my home fans. This being an Olympic year, I’ll take part in only fewer competitions this season, making this win a very special one for me. I hope to go on to win an Olympic medal once again for my country,” he said after his triumph.
Shortly after his final jump in Doha, Mutaz was already shifting his focus to the upcoming World Indoor Championships in the USA. “This was my last competition before Portland and I am very happy with my showing. I am not setting goals prior to each meeting, to jump 2.40 or higher. I am concentrating on each attempt, taking it step by step. It is more important for me now to stay healthy, because only by striving to be in the best shape possible can you improve yourself. I have faced injuries before and suffered setbacks, so I know how important it is to take care of your health.”
Endurance runner Abubaker Haydar, a 2015 Aspire Academy graduate, also impressed spectators on the first day of the Championships by winning the first round of the 800m event. During the event’s final round, he displayed a strong performance, missing out on a medal by only 0:04 seconds. However, just a few minutes later, the 19-year-old Abubaker managed to celebrate his — so far — biggest career achievement by winning gold in the 4x400m relay and setting a new championship record of 3:08.20.
“My first race as a senior was a great experience. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get on the podium in 800m, but I went out with a new personal best knowing the things I need to improve to win next time. Winning a gold medal in the relay an hour later was, of course, fantastic,” Abubaker said about his first Asian Championships at the senior level. “Competing in front of friends and family also gave me more strength and motivation to work hard for my main goal, which is qualifying for Rio. I want to thank the Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF), Aspire Academy and, last but not least, my coach Jama Aden for their great support.”
Overall, Qatar topped the medal table with six golds, followed by China with five, and Kazakhstan with four. China won 13 medals in all, followed by Qatar and Kazakhstan with 10 each. “It was a very successful championship for Qatar and we are proud that some of our graduates were not only participating, but also showing strong results in front of the home crowd, which is not always easy. The way Mutaz handled the pressure was impressive and if he keeps following this path up to Rio, 2016 is going to be a big year for him,” said Markus Egger, Acting Director of Sport at Aspire Academy.
He also acknowledged further achievements of Aspire graduates and highlighted the excellent support from the QAF. “Our young Aspire Academy graduates had a unique chance to participate in a world-class event and did not disappoint with an excellent showing. Abubaker competed in his first major senior competition and Mousab Adam, who was very close to getting another medal for Qatar, have both used this opportunity to improve. If they keep up the hard work and determination we saw this week, they are going to be hot candidates for medals at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. I also want to congratulate the QAF and their coaches for the successful event – not only in terms of results, but also in terms of organization and athletic performance.”
ASPIRE ACADEMY GRADUATES AT THE 7th ASIAN INDOOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS:
| Athlete |
Event |
Result |
| Mutaz Essa Barshim |
High Jump |
1 |
| Abubaker Haydar |
4x400m Relay |
1 |
| Abubaker Haydar |
800m |
4 |
| Mousab Adam |
1.500m |
4 |
| Mohd Ahmed Al Mannai |
Heptathlon |
7 |
| Moamer Barshim |
High Jump |
11 |