Doha to Host IAAF Diamond League

Doha, May 02 (QNA) - Nine reigning world outdoor champions are set to flock to Doha, along with some of the sport's biggest stars, for the opening meeting of the IAAF Diamond League on next Friday. The meeting in the Qatari capital has traditionally attracted the elite of athletics, and this year's edition is no exception, with 38 champions and 80 medalists from past Olympic Games and IAAF World Championships, indoors and outdoors, expected to compete. On the men's side, six current or former Olympic champions will be in Doha: American trio LaShawn Merritt, Aries Merritt and Christian Taylor along with Kenyans Asbel Kiprop, Ezekiel Kemboi and Brimin Kipruto. Fourteen athletes competing have been world champions outdoors - nine alone last year in Beijing - and nine have won a world indoor title. In the women's events, Doha will welcome 18 global champions and 37 medalists. Kazakhstan's Olga Rypakova and Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown have struck Olympic gold, while 11 have also claimed world titles outdoors - seven in Beijing last year - and seven indoors. The long list of champions includes seven athletes who have grabbed at least one medal at all three major global competitions: local hero Mutaz Essa Barshim, LaShawn Merritt, Aries Merritt, David Oliver and Taylor, along with Rypakova and Campbell-Brown. Qatar Athletics Federation President Dahlan Al Hamad said, "Although 2016 is an Olympic year and many medal contenders elected to delay their outdoor debut, I am sure that athletics fans will enjoy another fantastic night on Qatar Sports Clubs track next Friday". "Doha Diamond League will be once more the ideal start to the outdoor season with so many great athletes competing and I am sure that many records will be broken", he said. (QNA)