Stellar start sees both Ismail and Mohammed through to the next round at the Japanese capital.
Qatari sprinter Ammar Ismail clocked personal-best timing to qualify for the next round of the 400-metre sprint at the World Atheltics Championships 2025 in Tokyo, replicating fellow countryman Seif Mohammed’s pole vault delight
The reigning Asian champion finished in 44.63 seconds, yet finished outside of the automatic spots in what was a fiercely competitive Heat 5.
However, the timing proved sufficient for the Qatari to advance as the second-fastest among the quickest non-automatic qualifiers.
It was a continuation of the the 28-year-old’s stellar form, which saw him record Asian-best timing of the year at Belgium’s Van Moor Meeting in August.
Ismail had qualified for the Tokyo meet in a similar fashion, clocking his personal best of 44.66 seconds at the Paris Olympics last year.
The podium hopeful will be in action on Tuesday, vying for a spot in September 18’s finals at the Japan National Stadium.
Record-breaking Mohammed through to finals
Pole vaulter Mohammed lit up Qatar’s opening night in Tokyo with a record-breaking show to qualify for the finals.
The 20-year-old cleared the bar at 5.75 metres, setting a new personal and national best at the Japan National Stadium on Sunday. According to the Qatar Olympic Committee, the record extended to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and West Asia.
The two-time Arab champion cleared 5.40 metres in his first effort, before completing both the 5.55 metres and 5.70 metres in his second attempt.
His best mark of 5.75 metres, which will see him rub shoulders with the likes of multiple World record-holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden and the U.S.’s two-time World Champion Sam Kendricks, among others, came on the third attempt.
Mohammed, recently crowned the best under-20 athlete in Asia, will be the youngest among the 12 competitors vying for gold in the finals set to start at 1:49 pm Doha time on Monday.
Eventful Monday awaits Qatar
In addition to Mohammed, four sprinters will compete in what is set to be an eventful day for the Qatari contingent.
Asian record holder and podium hopeful Abderrahman Samba will lead the charge in the 400-metre hurdle preliminaries, alongside Bassem Hemeida and Ismail Abakar.
A bronze winner at the 2019 World Championship in Doha, Samba will vie for a place in the semis from Heat 1, set to start at 1:35 pm Doha time.
Hemeida, who represented Qatar at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, will compete in Heat 2 scheduled at 1:43 pm, followed by Abakar’s Heat 3 eight minutes later.
Omar Abakar will compete at the men’s 110 metres hurdles qualifying later at 2:37 pm Doha Time.
