The leading names set to take part in the 2012 Samsung Diamond League meeting in Doha have been announced — Bekele, Cheruiyot, Dibaba and Jelimo — with the meeting to be held on Friday 11 May. Abdullah Al Zaini, President of the Qatar Athletics Federation, unveiled the names of these four champions who will take part in the Diamond League meeting hosted by Doha, at a press conference held by Al Zaini attended by Adel Al Baker, Secretary General of the Athletics Federation and meeting director, Essa Al Harami, the meeting’s technical director, Sandro Giovannelli, sporting advisor, and Fahad Al Hajri, media director.
These four athletes have achieved a great many sporting feats: Ethiopian world champion Bekele, world title holder in the 5000 m and 10000 m, has added 16 titles across track and cross-country events, in addition to being Olympic champion after winning both distances. Likewise, Kenya’s Cheruiyot is world champion in the 5000 m and 10000 m and won the 2011 cross-country race. As for Ethiopia’s Dibaba, who claimed a string of victories at the World Youth Championships on the track and in cross-country, he recently won his first world title in the senior category, in the 1500 m at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul last month. Kenya’s Jelimo, meanwhile, cleared the 800 m and won gold on the third day of the Istanbul finals, an achievement that coincided with her 2008 form, confirming that she has overcome the injuries she suffered since then.
The participation of Sudan’s Abubaker Kaki, silver medallist in Doha last month, has also been confirmed. He will compete against Kenya’s Alfred Kirwa Yego, 2007 world champion, and Moroccan record holder Amine Laalou. Kenya’s Jelimo will compete against record holder and Daegu semi-finalist, India’s Tintu Luka.
With the announcement of the first batch of participants for the upcoming meeting, the media platform for this meeting has also been set up on both Twitter and Facebook. For more information, please visit the following links:
http://www.diamondleague-doha.com/
Samsung Diamond League schedule
Doha, Qatar – 11 May
Shanghai, China – 19 May
Rome, Italy – 31 May
Eugene, United States of America – 2 June
Oslo, Norway – 7 June
New York, United States – 9 June
Paris, France – 6 July
London, United Kingdom – 13/14 July
Monaco, Monday – 20 July
Stockholm, Sweden – 17 August
Lausanne, SUI – 23 August
Birmingham, United Kingdom – 26 August
Zurich, SUI – 30 August
Brussels, Belgium – 7 September
