Oumar Abakar will represent Qatar at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Nanjing, China, on March 21, breaking the national record with a time of 7.67 seconds in the 60m hurdles. Training at Aspire Academy has been vital for his development, and he aims to qualify for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.
Oumar Abakar, an athlete trained at Aspire Academy, is set to represent Qatar at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Nanjing, China, beginning March 21. His qualification for this prestigious global event underscores the fruitful collaboration between Aspire Academy and the Qatar Athletics Federation in cultivating elite competitors.
Abakar earned his spot by breaking the Qatar national record with a time of 7.67 seconds in the 60m hurdles at the Aarhus Sprint ‘n’ Jump event in January. This performance surpassed the previous record of 7.78 seconds, established by Aspire Academy alumnus Saeed Saeed al-Absi at the same event in the prior year. Abakar will be the sole representative for Qatar at the championships.
Following his European racing experience, Abakar and his coach, Lee Christopher, have been training in South Africa to prepare for the competition in China. The meeting in Aarhus was one of three encounters in Europe Abakar participated in, marking his transition from under-20 competitions to senior events. His rise comes after a successful last year as an under-20 athlete, securing the sixth-fastest time of 2024 for the 110m hurdles.
In the World Under-20 Athletics Championships, Abakar narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth in Peru. Transitioning to senior competitions entails racing against seasoned athletes and tackling higher hurdles, increasing from 99cm for under-20s to 106.7cm for seniors.
Despite these challenges, Abakar believes he has adapted well to competing at the senior level: “The level of the hurdles hasn’t been too hard because I’m tall and so personally it doesn’t matter too much to move from junior to senior.” He noted the importance of racing in Europe, where he faced larger crowds and intense competition.
Abakar remarked, “It’s not easy to be honest, to travel from country to country (in a short space of time), so this is hard for me. But racing with the big guy, as I stepped, that was exciting, and it’s nice to race against them.” His ambition is to maintain his performance and qualify for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.
Coach Lee Christopher, who collaborates closely with the Qatar Athletics Federation, expresses confidence in Abakar’s capabilities. He stated, “He is coping well with the step up to the senior men’s event. Going on his first European indoor tour and racing indoors properly was fantastic.”
Christopher highlighted that Abakar’s strength at the conclusion of races will help improve his performance in the 60m hurdles and prepare him for outdoor events. He emphasized the importance of experiencing the competitive atmosphere and shared that Abakar performed admirably against established athletes, including Olympians.
As Abakar adjusts to the transition, Christopher noted, “The change in height of the barriers is an interesting step up for anyone… he is now running similar times to the ones he was over the smaller hurdles.” The coach expressed admiration for Abakar’s psychological resilience, emphasizing that the current focus is on the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games in September, viewing the World Indoor Championships as a crucial step toward that goal.
Oumar Abakar’s qualification for the World Indoor Athletics Championships showcases the successful partnership between Aspire Academy and the Qatar Athletics Federation in nurturing elite talent. as Qatar’s only representative, he aims to excel in the 60m hurdles. The support from Coach Lee Christopher, coupled with Abakar’s dedication, positions him well for future successes, culminating in a hopeful qualification for the Tokyo World Championships this September.
Original Source: www.gulf-times.com
