Competition in the 5th edition of the Arab Youth Athletics Championships gets under way with the participation of 400 male and female athletes representing 14 countries whose participation was officially confirmed for the championship, following the withdrawal of Oman, Somalia and Djibouti. Our national team takes part in the championship with just five champions: Mohanad Khamis Abdullah in the 2000m steeplechase; Abduljalil Ahmed Al Mannai in the 110m hurdles; Saad Ahmed Al Mannai and Abdullah Hassan Al Rubaie in the decathlon; Abdulrahman Jamal Khasaif in the hammer throw and shot put; and Mariam Mamdouh Fareed in the 200m and 400m hurdles. The championship’s technical meeting was held to confirm athletes’ eligibility and the competition schedule, chaired by Mohammed Jassim Al Kuwari, secretary general of the Qatar federation and the championship’s administrative delegate, attended by technical committee members Saudi Arabia’s Habib Al Rab’an and Iraq’s Jabbar Rahima.
Schedule
During the meeting the competition schedule was approved, starting at 7:30am with the youth 10,000m walk final, followed by the girls’ 100m hurdles heats, then the boys’ 110m hurdles semi-finals, in which our champion Abduljalil Ahmed Al Mannai will face a tough challenge to qualify for the final, then the girls’ 100m hurdles semi-final and girls’ high jump heats, then the boys’ 100m and girls’ and boys’ 400m semi-finals.
The opening ceremony begins at 3pm, followed at 4pm by the 100m finals, long jump and girls’ heptathlon shot put, and the girls’ discus final, while the pole vault final begins at 5:10pm, followed by the boys’ 100m, high jump, and girls’ 3,000m and 5,000m walk.
The boys’ javelin throw final begins at 5:15pm, followed by the long jump, girls’ 200m heats and the 2000m steeplechase final, in which our promising champion Mohanad Khamis Abdullah — a strong medal contender — will take part, and finally at 6:20pm the girls’ 100m final, followed by the boys’ 100m final, closing the first day.
Meanwhile our youth national team champion Mariam Mamdouh Fareed arrives in Tunisia to compete in the 200m and 400m hurdles at the 5th Arab Athletics Championships. Mariam was unable to travel with the delegation because of her exams, and after finishing them she arrives in Tunisia and will be ready to contest both races, hoping to put in a good showing. The 200m heats will be held on Tuesday at 8:50, Tunisia time, in the semi-final round, while the 400m hurdles final will be held the same day at 5pm.
Mona bin Mohammed, organising committee chair: We hope for strong competition among brothers
Mona bin Mohammed, chair of the organising committee and a member of the Tunisian Athletics Federation, expressed her great happiness at hosting the 5th Arab Youth Athletics Championships, stressing that it is a great honour for the Tunisian federation, and for Tunisia, to host this large Arab gathering.
The organising committee chair said: “Tunisia is going through difficult political circumstances, like many other Arab countries, so we hope all delegations will cooperate to make the championship a success and see it through in the best shape.”
Mona bin Mohammed noted that the large participation from Arab countries is clear evidence that competition among brothers will be strong.
Abduljalil Al Mannai, our national team player: I am seeking to return with a medal
Abduljalil Ahmed Al Mannai, our national team’s champion in the 110m hurdles, said he will give his utmost to return to Doha with a medal, despite the tough competition and the strength of the athletes taking part. Al Mannai said: “My first goal is to set a new personal best at the Arab Championships and then win a medal, God willing.” He added: “In general, this championship is a good opportunity for all athletes to gain more experience and strong competitive exposure.”
