by Alfonz Juck
Mutaz Essa Barshim, photo by World Athletics
The gold medal that Barshim won in Doha was one of the highlights of any World championships since 1983! Barshim had been injured, and he was being pushed-could he compete? 48,000 fans watched, holding their collective breaths as he delivered the performance of his life. In that moment, the royal family of Qatar, the LOC, and the sponsors made their collective return on investment. In that high jump clearance, Doha was supreme, as was Mutaz Essa Barshim…r
Barshim back to Doha
DOHA (QAT): World high jump champion Mutaz Essa Barshim will open his season on home soil at the Doha Diamond League in April. The main programme takes place on 17 April but the men’s high jump will take place at the Amphitheatre of the Katara Cultural Village on 16 April. “After such an amazing experience winning gold at the World Championships in Doha, I’m excited that my first competition of the 2020 season will also be in Doha – especially in the Amphitheatre which will provide a spectacular venue for the high jump competition,” said Barshim. World 5000m champion Hellen Obiri faces world 3000m steeplechase champion Beatrice Chepkoech in the 3000m and world javelin champion Anderson Peters from Grenada makes his Diamond League debut. World bronze medallists and Asian Games champions Abderrahman Samba (400m hurdles) and Abdalelah Haroun (400m) will also compete in Doha.
