“Athletics” the spearhead of Qatar’s march of achievements and leadership
Our national youth athletics delegation received a warm and special welcome on its return home the day before yesterday following its world achievement at the World Junior Championships hosted by Canada in the city of Moncton, where Qatar’s champions won two medals: gold for talented, promising champion Mutaz Barshim in the high jump with an outstanding mark of 2.31, while his teammate, runner Mohammed Al Karni, took the second medal, the bronze, in the 1500m. Among those leading the welcome for the champions returning from Canada via the Swedish capital, Stockholm, were Abdullah Ahmed Al Zaini, chairman of the board, Olympic champion Mohammed Suleiman, board member, Yacoub Abdullah, board member, Khalifa Abdulmalik, the federation’s executive director, and Rashed Al Ansari, chairman of the federation’s public relations committee, in addition to Captain Mohammed Taher, supervisor of the sprints centre. A large gathering from the Qatari athletics family, along with the champions’ families and friends, was also present for the welcome, and on the champions’ arrival at the reception hall, Al Zaini and the board members placed garlands of flowers around the champions’ necks in appreciation and gratitude from the Qatari athletics family towards Qatar’s ambassadors for the world achievement they secured under the leadership of promising champion Mutaz Barshim.
Global echoes of Qatar’s achievement
The golden achievement by promising Qatari champion Mutaz Barshim had generated wide global echoes, as he displayed great talent and ability despite his young age and limited field experience, yet he stood out remarkably in the world challenge and proved his standing in the difficult discipline of the “high jump”, sitting atop the world throne and sending a warning to the senior ranks that he is capable of winning challenges and taking on anyone, and that he is truly one of the horses to back and Qatari sport’s hope, God willing, at the London 2012 Olympics, with his fine mark of (2.30 m). Barshim also holds the Qatari, Asian and Arab records and the best world junior mark of the year (2.31 m), set before the championships in Sweden.
Al Zaini: Betting on the champions of the future
Al Zaini highlighted the golden achievement secured by Qatar’s promising champions Mutaz and Al Karni, and the federation chairman congratulated all members of the victorious Qatari delegation, affirming that this resounding victory for Qatari athletics would have a major impact in driving the sport’s development forward in light of the leadership shown by Qatar’s promising champions, who represent the spearhead of the federation’s future plans and projects.. affirming that these achievements and the excellence shown by Qatar’s promising champions at the World Championship in Canada were first made possible by the grace of God Almighty and then by the support and backing of those whose generous hands support sport in general and athletics in particular, praising what Qatar’s two promising players had achieved and their excellence and superiority over the world’s champions in the world challenge.. affirming that the future will be bright, God willing, for Qatari athletics given the patronage and support it enjoys from those responsible for Qatari sport.. Al Zaini concluded his remarks by repeating his congratulations and best wishes to the wise leadership and the loyal Qatari people.. pledging to our wise leadership that the flag of Qatari athletics will remain held high to best represent Qatar at international events, with God’s help and guidance.
Mutaz: The achievement is a gift to our leadership and the Qatari people
World champion Mutaz Essa Barshim dedicated his world achievement to our wise leadership, praising the support, attention and encouragement he has received from everyone throughout his sporting career, enabling him to continue his sporting journey with high resolve and confidence to best represent Qatar, and he also dedicated his achievement to all the sons of the Qatari people.. expressing his happiness and joy at the sporting excellence he achieved at the World Junior Championships.. pledging to the leadership to give his utmost effort to honour Qatari sport and raise its flag high at international events, and he also extended deep thanks and gratitude to the federation family led by elder brother Abdullah Al Zaini, the captain of the ship, for his valued efforts in supporting our sporting journey, with special thanks to Captain Khalifa Abdulmalik, national teams manager and the federation’s executive director, for his kind and sincere efforts with all the promising champions in supporting and encouraging them to continue their journey with high spirit, dedication and sincerity to honour Qatar.
Abdulmalik: The convoy moves forward
Captain Khalifa Abdulmalik, the spiritual father of the champions and national teams manager, congratulated the champions on their golden achievement and safe return home, considering the loving feelings and wonderful welcome given to the champions by the federation family, their families and friends as clear proof of the solidarity and unity of the sons of Qatar and their high appreciation for everyone who contributes to and raises Qatar’s name high at international events, while also noting this world achievement by promising champion Mutaz Barshim and the excellent level and high spirit he showed throughout the past season, crowning his effort with world gold, affirming that he is a fine talent and a prospective Olympic champion, God willing, and Abdulmalik also congratulated champion Rashed Al Manai on his recovery from injury and the start of his journey to regain his previous form and achievements, wishing the champions further victories and success in the challenges ahead, and concluded by saying that our journey continues, God willing.
Suleiman: The champions have honoured us
Mohammed Suleiman, our Olympic champion, board member and head of the long- and middle-distance department, congratulated the athletics family and the entire Qatari people on the world achievement of Qatar’s champions led by talented Mutaz Essa, winner of the high jump gold medal, and his teammate Mohammed Al Karni, winner of the 1500m bronze, considering the coloured medals a good omen for Qatari sport, affirming that they had honoured us and raised the flag high at the world event, and wishing success for Qatari athletics in the challenges ahead, chief among them the Asian Games in China and the World Championship in Croatia, among other world events.
World coach Stanislaw: Mutaz is talented and highly capable
The world-class Swedish coach of Polish origin
Stanislaw Szczyrba, coach of talented Mutaz Barshim who has unlocked his great abilities, genuinely affirmed Barshim’s world-class talent, stating that he found extraordinary raw material in Mutaz, and that within a short period of nine months he was able to bring him to an advanced technical and tactical level, considering champion Mutaz to still be only halfway along the road to reaching the peak of his sporting career, especially given his young age of 19, and that he currently ranks among the world’s top five in the high jump, which is remarkable for the discipline, and Stanislaw congratulated the entire Qatari people on Barshim’s golden achievement, affirming that this is only the beginning and that better is yet to come.
Champion Barshim’s father: Support from the wise leadership lies behind Mutaz’s success
Captain Essa Barshim, champion Mutaz’s father, was overjoyed as he welcomed his son, surrounded by family members and bouquets of flowers.. Barshim expressed his deep appreciation and gratitude for the care, attention and support his son, champion Mutaz, has received from all those responsible for Qatari sport, enabling him to reach the pinnacle of world athletics, affirming that what Mutaz has achieved is a true reflection of the support and attention our leadership gives to promising champions, and wishing everyone success in the challenges ahead.
The Qatari roll of honour
The Qatari roll of honour comprised Abdullah Ahmed Al Zaini – chairman of the board, and also included Khalifa Yousef Abdulmalik – team manager, Mohammed Ahmed Suleiman – administrator, Jama Aden – middle-distance coach, Stanislaw Szczyrba – high jump coach, Ove Hux – 110m hurdles coach, and Ramil – decathlon coach, and Sergei Medelka for the team, in addition to the champions.. Mutaz Essa Barshim, high jump, Khalid Saeed Al Sayari – jumper, Mohammed Al Karni – 1500m, 800m runner, Hamza Driouch – 800m runner, Saif Sabah Khairallah – 110m, 800m runner, Mohammed Ahmed Al Manai – decathlete
