Our outstanding champion Ahmed Bader officially qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympics, joining the ranks of athletics’ champions at the biggest event in world sport, after achieving the Rio Olympics qualifying standard in the javelin throw during his participation in the Finland International meeting with a mark of 84.74m.
The new success achieved by our talented champion confirms his good technical and tactical development this season, having recorded 77.80m, then 79.00m and 80.00m, before finally the outstanding mark of 84.74m. It should be noted that renowned Finnish coach Esa Jigni oversees the training of our champion Bader and has contributed to his physical and technical development, though there remains a long road ahead to reach the highest levels of sporting glory if he continues with the same drive, determination, enthusiasm and perseverance to achieve his goals.
Major General Dahlan Al Hamad, president of the Qatari and Asian federations and IAAF vice-president, expressed his happiness at the success achieved by our talented young champion, especially as he is also a candidate to compete at the World Youth Championships in Poland in the coming days, and said what our champion has achieved confirms that he worked hard to progress gradually and reach his goal, raising the number of our champions taking part in the most important event in world sport — indeed the most eagerly awaited event of all. He confirmed that Qatari athletics is on the right path, especially in its pursuit of achievements and full development, and noted that Qatari athletics has always sought to bring honour to Qatari sport at any event, especially the most important events such as the Olympics, wishing everyone success in reaching their goals.
Nine Qatari athletics champions have achieved the qualifying standards for the Rio 2016 Olympics: Mutaz Essa Barshim in the high jump, Femi Ogunode in the 100m, Abdalelah Haroun in the 400m, Musaeb Abdulrahman in the 800m, Mohamed Al Garni in the 1500m, Ashraf Al Seify in the hammer throw, Ahmed Bader in the javelin throw, Abubaker Haydar in the 1500m, and Dalal Mesfer Al Harthi in the 400m.
For his part, Finnish coach Esa Jigni praised champion Ahmed Bader and the good, high level shown by the athlete during his preparations for the upcoming Olympic challenge.
