Mutaz Barshim for Slovakia!

BANSKA BYSTRICA (SVK): World champion and IAAF Athlete of the Year 2017 Qatari star Mutaz Essa Barshim returns to Slovakia. He will compete as head-line name at the 24th edition of the Banska Bystrica High Jump meet with music on February 6. He won here in 2013 with 236 and in 2015 with meet record 240 cm. At that time it was his first indoor 240 jump and Asian record. As he said he wants to concentrate in 2018 on jumping high without global championships. Among his rivals many of the current top jumpers. Reigning World Indoor champion Gianmarco Tamberi, European Indoor champion Sylwester Bednarek, Olympic medalist Robbie Grabarz, World champion 2007 Donald Thomas. Also world finalists from London Edgar Rivera of Mexico, German Mateusz Przybylko, Bulgarian Tihomir Ivanov and Chinese Wang Yu. Not to forget Belarus duo European indoor medalist Pavel Seliverstau and European U20 champion Maksim Nedasekau. Looks like the top field before World Indoors in Birmingham where high jump will be staged as special event on Thursday, March 1.