Doha Diamond League: Chopra falls short, Bednarek sparkles

DOHA: Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra faced disappointment at the Doha Diamond League on Friday, narrowly missing out on victory by just two centimeters in the men’s javelin event. His final throw of 88.36m fell short of Czech rival Jakub Vadlejch’s mark of 88.38m.

Meanwhile, American sprinter Kenny Bednarek delivered a scintillating performance in the 200 meters, clocking a world-leading time of 19.67 seconds, a personal best and a meet record. Bednarek’s victory showcased his readiness for the upcoming Paris Olympics, where he aims to make a strong impact.

In other events, Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Steven Gardiner cruised to victory in the 400 meters, expressing contentment with his performance as he gears up for Paris. Kenyan world champion Mary Moraa secured victory in the women’s 800 meters, holding off British athlete Jemma Reekie to claim victory in 1:57.91, her season’s best.

The competition in Doha marked the beginning of the Olympic buildup, with athletes aiming to fine-tune their form ahead of the prestigious event. With seven more Diamond League meets scheduled before the Olympics, including the Paris leg on July 7, athletes have ample opportunities to prepare themselves for the ultimate challenge.

The meet also witnessed some other outstanding performances, including Greek long jumper Miltiadis Tentoglou’s 8.36m leap and Brazilian hurdler Alison dos Santos’s meet-record time of 46.86 seconds in the men’s 400m hurdles.

(Source: AFP)