Khalifa Abdulmalik, executive director of the Qatar Athletics Federation and national teams director, praised the strong competition at the cross-country championship across all categories, saying the championship presented a strong competitive picture among the clubs, considering it an excellent start to the athletics season and in ideal conditions for athletics, noting that Aspire Park, which hosted the start of the season, is considered the best venue for cross-country championships and could, given its specifications, host a world championship.
Abdulmalik affirmed that the competition among the clubs and the emergence of Al Khor, Al Jaish and Al Wakrah on the podium across the different categories is a healthy phenomenon that serves Qatar athletics in general, noting that the season is only at its start and that such results mean competition among the clubs on the track and field will continue throughout the season’s championships.
On preparations for upcoming challenges, Abdulmalik, national teams director for athletics, revealed that a large number of Qatar’s champions are currently in a rest period, such as Mutaz Essa Barshim, Abdalelah Haroun, Musaab Abdulrahman Balla and Femi, who have various commitments ahead of them at the Asian Indoor Championships in Doha and the World Indoor Championships, leading up to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics next August, as well as various other external commitments. He said the current season is also a season of youth championships at continental, regional and world level, so preparation for it will be somewhat different.
Khalifa Abdulmalik affirmed that Qatar so far has six champions qualified for the Olympic Games: Barshim, Femi Ogunode, Abdalelah Haroun, Musaab Balla, Mohammed Al Qarni and Ashraf Al Saifi, wishing success to all of Qatar’s champions in the various categories competing this season at every level.
