Qatar’s athletics champions continued their excellence on the world championship track and field circuit, in the ongoing search for the best preparation for the Diamond League and the Doha meeting in particular, as well as for effective participation at the Rio Olympics. Among the latest standout achievements was that of our world champion Femi Ogunode in Florida, USA, during one of the championships there, where he equalled his Asian personal best and recorded the season’s best time in the 100m, clocking 9.91 seconds – a time that confirms our champion’s readiness for the challenges ahead and that his overseas training camp is beginning to bear the desired fruit. Ogunode expressed his happiness at his achievement and said it was a moral boost towards reaching better times in the coming stages, especially since he has a complete programme with his coach to reach the best times possible. He confirmed that his participation in the Diamond League would be a further positive rehearsal for him before reaching the Olympics, despite also taking part in a number of other important events that help him gauge his technical and physical readiness
HE Major General Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad, chairman of the Qatar and Asian athletics federations and vice-president of the IAAF, praised the outstanding results achieved by our champion Ogunode and the expected times recorded, especially given his long period of preparation, hoping he manages to reach full excellence in the coming challenges, especially as he is currently one of the world’s leading sprinters with great determination to bring pride to Qatari sport. He said: “Our champions are always ready to deliver worthy achievements and determination to excel, and what Ogunode achieved in America confirms that he is on his way to the best readiness before the coming challenges. All we hope for is that he maintains his enthusiasm, determination and focus in order to reach his best before the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, because that is the most important target of all, and so we have full confidence in our champions who aspire to bring pride to their country and reach the medal podiums, however great the difficulties and obstacles, because the spirit of challenge exists and the determination to improve exists”
For his part, Khalifa Abdulmalik, director of the national teams and executive director of the athletics federation, expressed his satisfaction and happiness at the achievement recorded in Florida by our world champion Ogunode, in a race that featured many world champions and record-holders, meaning that this excellence shows that fruitful preparation produces outstanding results and new times. He said: “There is no doubt that our champion Ogunode is among those constantly serious about progress and development in the search for new times or excellence in any race he takes part in, especially as he has repeatedly proven that he is in good technical shape, and despite recovering from the injury that kept him out of the Asian Championships, he managed a swift and strong return. We hope excellence continues in the coming challenges, especially in the Diamond League and the Olympics, and there is no doubt that all our champions are on a quest for excellence through overseas training camps or participation in many championships as part of a complete programme”
