Major General Dahlan Al Hamad, president of the Qatar Athletics Federation and the Asian Athletics Association and vice-president of the IAAF, travelled to Singapore to attend the East Asian Games, organised by Singapore and considered a mini Asian Olympics for countries of East and Central Asia. Al Hamad had praised the champions following the medal ceremony and the lowering of the championship flag, saying that by every measure they had achieved success, with just 15 athletes winning the title and the leading position, and noting that the coming period requires further perseverance to prove themselves and stay at the top, wishing everyone success. In an interview with the Qatar federation’s website, Major General Dahlan Al Hamad said Qatar athletics had succeeded thanks to the champions’ determination and hard work over recent months, and that the goal now is to achieve further distinction at the World Championships despite fierce competition. He said every one of our champions gave their best and succeeded in achieving distinction for Qatar athletics, and that what comes next will be even better, and he expressed his happiness at the new achievement at the Arab Championships through talented champion Mohanad Khamis, who followed up his breakthrough at the Asian Championships in Doha with a repeat performance at the Arab Championships in Tunisia, as well as what the other champions achieved – the nucleus of the future national team, who are doing credit to Qatar athletics
