QOC President honours Qatari athletes

HE the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday honoured Qatari athletes who won medals on the world stage during the 2016/2017 season.Mutaz Essa Barshim, who won the high jump gold at the IAAF World Championships in London and dominated the Diamond League meetings, Abdulelah Haroun, winner of the bronze medal in the 400m race in London, Abdulrahman Samba, winner of the 400m hurdles at the Doha Diamond League and javelin thrower Ahmed Bedeir who finished second in the Asian Championship and first at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku were among the honorees.During the ceremony, HE Sheikh Joaan extended his thanks and appreciation to the members of the Qatar athletics team and expressed his pride at the country’s achievements at the IAAF World Championships. He urged them to continue their efforts to excel at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and live up to the expectations of the Qatari sports community.Barshim’s coach Stainslaws Szczyrba was also feted on the occasion. Officials of the Qatar Athletics Federation including board member Khalid al-Marri, General Secretary Mohamed al-Fadala and former Qatari athlete Talal Mansour also attended the ceremony.