Oman’s Mohammed al Saadi takes part in World Athletics

MUSCAT, AUG 25

Oman’s runner Mohammed al Saadi wrapped up his participation at the World Athletics Championship which is underway in Budapest, Hungary. Al Saadi’s represented Oman in the qualification of the men’s 200-metre race. He ended at the seventh place with a timing of 21.39 seconds in Heat 4 of the qualifiers.

The first three who qualified from Heat 4 were Canadian Brendon Rodney who recorded a timing of 20.14 seconds while Brazilian Renan Correa came second as he clocked 20.44 seconds and Shaun Maswanganyi from South Africa finished third place with a timing of 20.56 seconds. The final of men’s 200 metres is late on Friday.

PROMISING ATHLETE

The world’s top athletics event, in its 19th edition, will run until Sunday after nine days from the excitement and thrilling competitions.

In the men’s 200m, world leader and defending champion Noah Lyles will chase up for more than the title. In the build up to the championships, the US sprinter made history at the London Diamond League in July by breaking Usain Bolt’s record for the most wind-legal sub-20 races, which was pegged at 34. In Budapest, the 26-year-old will aim to take one more record from the Jamaican: the world record.

Omani sprinter Mohammed al Saadi’s latest achievement was in last July at the Arab Sports Games in Algeria. He had managed to earn silver medal in 200m after he cleared the distance in a timing of 20.94 seconds. Moreover, he was among the team in men’s 4X100 metres relay comprising Rashid al Asmi, Barakat al Harthy, Ali al Balushi and Mohammed al Saadi and they had clinched the gold medal after they registered a timing of 39.70 seconds.

Oman’s other athletics team members claimed a good haul of medals with six medals including two gold, one silver and three bronze medals. The first medal for Oman in the Arab Games was by Fatik Abdulghafoor, who claimed gold in the men’s high jump after he registered a jump of 2.16 metres. Paralympics star Qusai al Rawahi won the silver medal in the men’s 100 metres in the T12/13 category with a timing of 11.83 seconds.

Oman’s top sprinter Barakat al Harthy clinched the bronze in the men’s 100 metres in 10.37 seconds. Oman’s long jumper Salim al Yarubi took the bronze after he registered a jump of 15.41 metres.