Ali enters semis of 60m dash at World Indoor Athletics

MUSCAT, MAR 20
Oman’s sprinter Ali al Balushi advanced to the semis of Men’s 60 metres sprint on Friday at the World Athletics Indoor Championships which is underway in Poland until Sunday.
The 24-year-old managed to secure a slot in the semifinal after he claimed second place in Round 1 of Heats 5 with a timing of 6.62 seconds while Jamaican racer Kishane Thompson earned first place to complete the distance in 6.56 seconds. Filippo Randazzo from Italy was third with a timing of 6.63 seconds.
The semifinal of the event took place later on Friday while the final is scheduled on Saturday.
Out of the heats, three racers from each heat qualified to the semifinal besides three fastest times qualified for the same round.
In the overall and summary of all the seven heats, Ali was positioned in the 20th place among 49 sprinters. The list was topped by Trayvon Bromell from USA with a timing of 6.52 seconds while Belgian sprinter Simon Verherstraeten wrapped up the race event as runner-up after he clocked 6.53 seconds while Bryan Levell from Jamaica came in third with a timing of 6.53 seconds.
In Heat 1, Netherlands’ Taymir Burnet finished first in 6.56 seconds while Heat 2 was topped by Trayvon Bromell from USA (6.52 seconds) and Heat 3 by Bryan Levell from Jamaica with a timing of 6.53 seconds. In Heat 4, Jordan Anthony of USA ended the race in 6.54 seconds while Heat 5 was claimed by Kisance of Jamaica (6.56 seconds). Jeremiah Azu from Great Britian won Heat 6 in 6.55 seconds while Heat 7 was topped by Ackeem Blake from Jamaica in 6.59 seconds.

AL BALUSHI EYES STRONG RESULT
The World Athletics Indoor Championships featured participation of 345 men and 329 women, with many of the sport’s biggest stars among those entered. A total of 674 athletes from 118 member federations are taking part in the competition and vying to compete at the global indoor showpiece.
Al Balushi affirmed in a previous statement to Oman Observer that he was all set for the global competition. “I have completed several training sessions under direct supervision of the head coach Fahad al Mashaikhi. I feel that I have reached the best readiness level and I am still warming up ahead of the commencement of the competition in Poland'.
'Before few months, I had a strong European indoor season and now I am aiming to achieve a special result at the World Championships despite the expected tough competition. I would like to thank everyone who is supporting me including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Oman Athletics Association (OAA) and the sponsors”, he said.