The second Wanda Diamond League meeting of the 2021 season takes place in Doha on Friday (from 17:58 GMT+3), with a number of international stars and Diamond Trophy holders taking their first step on the Road To The Final. Here are five things to look out for:
Pole vault champions
Just under two years ago, the world’s best female pole vaulters did battle in Doha at the World Athletics Championships, with Anzhelika Sidorova (gold) beating Sandi Morris (silver) and Katerina Stefanidi (bronze) to the ultimate prize.
The three-way rivalry will be resumed this Friday. Stefanidi, Sidorova and Morris lead a high-quality pole vault field as they once again vy for superiority in the Qatari capital.
It is a battle which is too close to call. Stefanidi has dominated the series and held the Diamond Trophy since 2016, but has not won in Doha since 2017. Both she and Morris have already jumped 4.80m this year, while Sidorova has form in Doha with her World Championship triumph.
There may even be a surprise. Holly Bradshaw and Angelica Bengtsson both picked up victories in the 2020 Wanda Diamond League season, and Bradshaw has the third highest mark indoors this year behind Sidorova and Morris.
Walsh and Cheruiyot launch Diamond Trophy defence
With three Diamond League titles since 2016, Tom Walsh remains the man to beat in the men’s shot put, and the New Zealand star faces an in-form field in Doha. As well as world junior record holder Konrad Bukowiecki, Walsh faces two athletes – in Filip Mihaljevic and Armin Sinancevic – who have thrown further than he has this yea.
Also launching his title defence on Friday is 1500m master Timothy Cheruiyot, who has held the Diamond Trophy for the last three years. This year, he may face a challenge from rising star Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who got his campaign off to a winning start in Gateshead. The Kenyan will be looking to respond by getting points on the board himself when he makes his first appearance of the season in Doha.
Obiri aiming for Doha quadruple
Hellen Obiri has fond memories of Doha. The city was the scene of her second successive 5000m gold medal in the World Athletics Championships in 2019, and the two-time Diamond Trophy winner has also clocked up three victories in the Doha Diamond League, in 2014, 2019 and 2020.
“After my half marathon debut in April (she ran 1:04:51 in Istanbul) I’m looking forward to getting back on the track, especially at the Doha Diamond League meeting where I will be going for my fourth 3000m win. I ran the Kenyan record there in 2014 (8:20) and the second fastest 3000m in my career there last September (8:22),” said Obiri ahead of her appearance in the women’s 3000m this Friday.
The Kenyan star will looking to get her campaign off to a winning start as she looks to regain her Diamond League title from Sifan Hassan this season.
Barshim and Samba on home soil
Doha wouldn’t be Doha without Mutaz Essa Barshim. The high jump superstar is Qatar’s most successful athlete on the Diamond League circuit, with three Diamond Trophies under his belt. After taking it easy last year, he now returns to action on home soil this Friday.
He will be joined by another local star in Abderrahman Samba. The 400m hurdler wowed the word when he broke the Diamond League record four times in five appearances in 2018, and will be looking to reassert himself at the top of the pile alongside world champion and Diamond Trophy holder Karsten Warholm this season. On Friday, Samba will line up against a testing field which includes Rai Benjamin and double Diamond Trophy winner Kyron McMaster.
Veteran battle in 100m
Dina Asher-Smith stole the show at the first women’s 100m race of the season in Gateshead last weekend, with rising star Sha’Carri Richardson coming in a solid second. In Doha, however, it will be time for the more experienced sprint stars to show their quality.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, 34, and 32-year-olds Marie-Josée Ta Lou and Blessing Okagbare came in third, fourth and fifth in Gateshead, and will all be looking to boost their points tally with a victory in Doha.