Gold for Abdullah in Asian Games
Ahmed Hassan Abdullah (QAT) won his first Championship title for his adopted country when taking the Asian Games 10,000m in hot and humid conditions in Manilla. Abdullah was a class apart in the field as he lapped every other runner on his way to a 28:45.64 clocking. This race completes Ahmed’s best ever season as he continues to progress on the international scene. In 2003 he finished 4th in the World Championships 10,000m and set personal bests for 5,000m (12:56 in Oslo) and 10,000m (26:38 in Brussels).
After a long and eventful season, Saif Shaheen elected to run the 1500m and 5000m in Manilla. Both races turned into tactical affairs with Saif picking up two silver medals. Despite not taking a gold medal there was consolation for Saif in the 5000m as his Qatar team mate Amri Abdelaziz took the victory. “Throughout the race, I kept encouraging him, asking him whether he was all right, following me. What mattered was two medals for Qatar,” commented Saif after the race.
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