DOHA, Sept 25
Organisers of the cricket World Cup, the women’s football World Cup and the Copa America may disagree but the athletics World Championships, which start here on Friday, are the biggest sporting event of the year according to Sebastian Coe, head of the sport’s global body. “We have a record number of countries, we have anywhere up to 40 countries that have a chance of winning medals, we are only one of two global sports and this is the largest sporting event of the year,” the IAAF president said.
It is a bold claim for Coe to make, given the current state of the sport. This year’s championships, which run until October 6 at the air-conditioned Khalifa stadium, will be the first since the retirement of sprinter Usain Bolt, the sport’s only iconic figure, and there is no obvious candidate to fill the void left by the charismatic Jamaican.
It will be the second in a row without the participation of Russia, as the country remains banned following a World-Anti Doping Agency report in 2015 which found evidence of widespread doping in the sport. The only Russians present will be those with no doping history who have been cleared to compete internationally as neutrals — including high jump champion Maria Lasitskene. Also missing will be the triple world and double Olympics champion over 800 metres, Caster Semenya, who has challenged the IAAF’s recently-introduced testosterone regulations. The South African lost her appeal at the Court of Arbitration of Sport against the rules that mean middle distance female athletes with a high natural level of testosterone must take medication to reduce it.
Largest challenge
But Coe, who has long recognised that traditional athletics has to fight to stay relevant, said those challenges were “not remotely” the sport’s greatest. “The largest challenge we face is to maintain our sport at the top of the sporting pyramid and to remain exciting and salient for young people,” he said.
As usual, the main interest will focus on the men’s 100 and 200 metres with an intriguing battle in prospect between United States trio Christian Coleman, Noah Lyles and veteran Justin Gatlin. Lyles is expected to challenge for gold in both events at the Tokyo Olympics next year while Gatlin, the 100 metres titleholder, remains a contender at the age of 37. Coleman is the year’s fastest man over 100 metres (9.81 seconds) although he was only cleared to compete earlier this month after the United States Anti-Doping Agency withdrew a whereabouts charge — a potential anti-doping violation — against him.
Expectations will also be high in the men’s 400 metres hurdles where Norwegian Karsten Warholm, who ran the second fastest-ever time one month ago in Zurich, faces American champion Rai Benjamin, the joint third-fastest man over the distance.
Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will try to become the first runner, male or female, to win four 100 metres world titles.
Despite the stifling September temperatures in Doha, athletes have been promised pleasant conditions thanks to the innovative air-conditioning system at the competition venue. In fact, Coe said heat would be more of a concern at the Tokyo Olympics. — Reuters
Midnight marathon no escape from heat
Conditions for the women’s marathon will be tough despite a midnight start, IAAF said today as added medical and safety measures were put in place. The first medal event of the championships is scheduled to start one minute before Friday turns to Saturday local time but there will be no escaping the heat in Doha with temperatures still hovering around 30-40°C with 80 percent humidity. So extreme are the expected conditions that there are growing concerns that many of the runners starting the 42.195km race will not finish, creating a controversial start to the first championships staged in the Middle East. The men’s and women’s 50km walk will start on Saturday at 11:30pm while the men’s marathon is set for October 5. reuters
Coe re-elected for new term as IAAF chief
Doha: Britain’s Sebastian Coe was re-elected unopposed today as president of the IAAF for a second term. Coe, 62, the former Olympics and world champion middle-distance runner, was re-elected by unanimous vote of the 203 delegates attending the IAAF Congress in Doha.
Sumariwalla re-elected as IAAF council member
Athletics Federation of India president Adille Sumariwalla was today re-elected as the member of the IAAF Council for a second four-year term. Sumariwalla received 121 votes to get elected as one of the 13 individual members of the IAAF Council.
Usha honoured with IAAF Veteran Pin
Indian track and field legend PT Usha was today presented the Veteran Pin by the world athletics governing body in recognition of her contribution to the growth of sport. She was one of three persons from Asia to receive the honour. agencies
