World champion Jamal defends title and nationality switch

Published>Wed, Nov 24 10 12:48 AM

Bahrain's Ethiopia-born 1,500m world champion Maryam Jamal defended her decision to represent the oil-rich Gulf state, as African athletes dominated the middle-distance events at the Asian Games on Tuesday.

Jamal had little trouble defending her 1,500m title at Guangzhou's Aoti Main Stadium, holding off Vietnamese silver medallist Thanh Hang Truong in a time of 4:08.22, more than 12 seconds outside her personal best.

Bahrain's Tareq Mubarak Taher, a Kenya-born athlete formerly known as Denis Kipkurui Keter, won gold in the men's 3000m steeplechase.

"Of course, I am from Africa and I represent Bahrain and I feel good also," 26-year-old Jamal told reporters.

"The important (point) is the training. The main point is the training, that is why ... If you train hard you can do (well)."

African athletes also dominated the men's 5000m on Sunday, with Bahrain's Ali Hasan Mahboob, formerly Silas Kirui, taking gold ahead of two other Kenya-born runners representing Qatar.

Stiff competition for national team slots has prompted dozens of African athletes to defect to Gulf nations in search of money, better training facilities and opportunities to compete at major international events.

Kenya-born men's world champion Yusuf Saad Kamel was expected to be a strong medal chance in the 1,500m on Tuesday, but criticised Bahrain team officials after he crashed out in qualifying on Monday, saying they had forced him to run with a knee injury.

The delegation later issued a statement denying mistreatment and saying that Kamel had agreed to run in consultation with team officials.

In Kamel's absence, Mohammed Shaween of Saudi Arabia edged out Iran's Sajad Moradi for the title.

Chinese athletes took two of the other five track and field gold medals on offer, including the men's 20km race walk and the women's discus.

Jung Soonok of South Korea won the women's long jump gold and Yuki Nakata of Japan took the women's heptathlon.

Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim won the men's high jump.

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