Tribune News Network
Doha/Paris
Qatar’s 400m hurdles star Abderrahman Samba cruised into the semi-finals of the event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Monday, finishing second in his heat race at State de France.
Samba, who has overcome injuries in the past few years, excelled clearing the hurdles with ease clocking an impressive 48.35seconds to dinish behind Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Karsten Warholm of Norway (47.57secs). Frenchman Clement Dugos was second in 47.69.
The 28-year-old Samba, who won gold at the Asian Games in 2023 at Hangzhou, expressed delight on qualifying for the semi-finals. “Good preparations have helped,” he said and added, “I hope for success in the semis too with the best time to move a step closer to achieving my Olympic dream.”
The 400m hurdles semis will take place on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Olympic debutant 400m hurdler Bassem Hemeida finished fifth in heat 1 in 49.82 seconds and has made it to the repechage for a shot at the semi-finals.
Ismail lives up
to expectations
Qatar’s debutant 400m athlete Ammar Ismail Yahya Ibrahim meanwhile showed class as he
won the repechage contest with a time of 44.77 seconds for a place in the semi-finals of the event at Paris 2024.
Also qualifying as second from the race was Senegal’s Cheikh Tidiane Diouf, who clocked 45.03secs.
Ismail had earlier finished his heat race in 44.66secs on Sunday. The 400m semis are scheduled for Tuesday evening.
A total of 24 runners will participate in the semi-finals divided into three groups of eight each, with the top two finishers qualifying for the final.
