Olympian Mohammed Sulaiman, assistant secretary-general and head of our national team’s delegation at the Asian Athletics Championships in China, praised the golden achievements of Qatar’s champions, describing them as loyal men for the toughest moments. He said: “Praise and thanks be to God for the brilliance and excellence of Qatar’s champions, who have honoured us and held our heads high in Asian athletics’ biggest challenge, confirming their worth and the high standing of Qatar’s team.” He extended his warmest congratulations to HH the Amir of the country, HE Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports, and HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, president of the Olympic committee, for these achievements and Asian leadership. He went on: “We certainly also convey our congratulations to all members of athletics and the loyal Qatari people for these gains and Asian leadership, which will feed into our sporting development in the future,” thanking the champions for the effort and dedication they had put in to honour their country and raise our flag high.
The gleam of the 400m gold made me happy
Assistant secretary-general Mohammed Sulaiman said the 400m gold and its return to Qatar was an auspicious start and a long-awaited dream, but, thanks be to God, we managed it through rising star Haroun, whose neck now carries the “gleam of gold and diamond” – the young, promising sprinter of the future who stunned the continent and got the better of the elite in the Asian arena of honour. “We were all delighted by his victory over his good-natured rival, Saudi Arabia’s Yousef Masrahi, in an exciting race, claiming Asian glory,” he said, wishing continued success for young runner Haroun in the upcoming World Championships challenge in China and the other international commitments awaiting our champions. Sulaiman also saluted all our men who won medals – Al Garni, with his 1500m and 5000m gold double; Femi, Qatar’s hurricane and Asia’s fastest man; rising star Haroun; and young giant Al Seifi, who won hammer silver – wishing everyone success in the rest of the Asian challenge, led by champion Mutaz Essa Barshim and his fellow champions.
Sulaiman concluded by saying that better is still to come, and to watch out for Qatar’s proud young men in the challenges ahead.
Yousef Ahmed: Qatar, a byword for leadership
Yousef Ahmed, a member of Qatar’s delegation and the federation’s financial director, highlighted Qatar’s sporting achievements and gains at the Asian Athletics Championships, saying: “Yes, leadership has a name – it is Qatar, the country of glory and pride, wherever it goes. Qatar’s men are always there in tough moments, staying loyal.” He noted that these victories were credited to Qatar and its athletes, clearly reflecting the prestigious standing Qatari athletics has reached, praising the golden haul as our champions took the lion’s share with five medals – four gold and one silver – on the second day of the Asian Championships. He predicted that our remaining champions would add to the precious medal tally and win further honours over the final two days of the Asian event.
Yaqoub Abdullah: athletics is the spearhead of Qatar’s achievements
Yaqoub Abdullah, a delegation member and head of the preparation and logistics committee, affirmed that Qatari athletics is the spearhead of our sporting journey, having remained a symbol of leadership for decades, so it is no surprise that it continues to lead the way. He said he hoped our achievements would continue and that we would secure further gains and victories.
He congratulated federation president Al Hamad and every member of the outstanding delegation, affirming that these victories were only the beginning and that he hoped for even more, noting that our constellation of promising champions would, God willing, be the spearhead of our future journey, wishing everyone success in the rest of the Asian challenge.
