Doha: Qatar’s Musaeb Abdulrahman Balla will start as a favourite for the men’s 800m title at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Portland, United States, after he cruised to the final setting the fastest time during the qualifying heats on Friday afternoon.
Balla coasted to victory in 1:47.61 seconds. In the men’s 800m, Balla is the only one of the competitors to have broken 1:46.00 this year – having run 1:45.93 in Stockholm last month – and he ran with the confidence of an athlete vastly superior to his rivals.
The 27-year-old shot to the front on the first of four laps, passed 400m in a steady 53.22, and looked well within himself as he maintained the lead throughout the rest of the race and came home in 1:47.61.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s 19-year-old sprinter Abdalelah Haroun also qualified for the 400M final on Friday. The second semi-final was expected to boil down to a head-to-head duel between reigning champion Pavel Maslak of Czech Republic and Haroun, and that’s exactly what happened as the pair tussled for the lead approaching the bell. As so often is the case indoors, it was Maslak who utilised his speed best and got to the break in front.
Haroun attacked again off the final bend, but Maslak pulled out more on the final run to the line and edged the Qatari in what may prove  a crucial photo finish, given the importance of lane draws indoors, with both recording 45.71 and only being separated by 0.002. “It was very, very hard,” said Maslak. “Haroun is a very good athlete. Tomorrow will be a very hard fight.” The final was scheduled for late last night in Portland.
Mutaz Essa Barshim was also in action in High Jump final late last night. The Qatari Olympic bronze medallist is one of the favourites for the gold medal.