QAF Chairman : Allyson Felix to Compete in the Doha 2013 Diamond League competition

Doha, April 13 (QNA) - Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) held a press conference here on Saturday in which it announce the World and male and female Athletes of the Year competing in the Doha 2013 Diamond League competition due to be held at field and track of Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium in Qatar Sports Club in the 10th of May next. QAF chairman Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad said, "Allyson Felix is always most welcome in Doha. Her name is attached to Dohas Grand Prix history with so many victories and meeting records to her tally. I couldnt imagine Doha Diamond League without Allyson Felix being named among the participants." Felix is not only the first reigning IAAF World Female Athlete of the Year competing in Doha, but she also holds the unprecedented record of having won ten races in as many entries in Doha, in an eight-year run. She further said, "It is always nice to compete in Doha. I feel very comfortable in Qatar and in many ways it has started to feel like a home away from home. The people are so friendly, they are really supporting me and I can feel their love surrounding me. "I am very proud of my ten-win streak; I guess I am getting old Training is going well and I am excited to go after another victory in Doha" stated Felix after her name was announced by the Doha 2013 Diamond League Organising Committee at a press conference today in Doha. When Allyson Felix first landed in Qatar in 2005 for her maiden Doha Grand Prix appearance, she was just another Olympic medallist filling in the events impressive international roster. Eight years after her debut race in Qatar, the 27-year-old US sprinter wont be just another entrant in the 400m race but the main female attraction in Dohas Diamond League competition programme. Felix said, "Finally achieving my goal of Olympic Gold has been a surreal feeling, I have been chasing that goal for so long that I had to regroup and look at my goals for the future. Since I have been back to training I have realised that I love the feeling of Gold and I am even more hungry to achieve it again" claimed Felix, who also stands in second place in the World Championships multi-medallist all-time list, having won eight gold medals, one silver and one bronze. Felixs main rivals on the road to her eleventh Doha victory will be reigning 400m World Champion Amantle Montsho from Botswana, who just missed out on a podium place in London (4th), as well as former Olympic/World Champion and London Olympics silver medallist, Briton Christine Ohuruogu, Beijing 2008 Olympics silver medallist Shericka Williams from Jamaica and US 4X400m team mate Francena McCorory. At the London Olympic Games Allyson Felix captured her first ever gold medal in an individual event (200m), after three gold medals as a member of US relay squads. Some might say she has now fulfilled her childhood dream, but her hunger is not yet satisfied: Dahlan who is also Vice-President of the International Association of Athletics told reporters that Mutaz Essa Barshim couldnt have been left out of Dohas 2013 Diamond League line-up. The 21-year old high jumper is carrying Qatari hopes for a rare Diamond League win. After last seasons Olympic bronze medal, Mutazs reputation spread like wildfire around the world and everybody expects a 2.40 jump from him sooner or later. Mutaz is saying about his personal ambitions and goals: "Last season was pretty successful for me since I won an Olympic medal and I equalled the Asian record. If I stay healthy and by working hard, I know I can jump higher and hopefully I will win a medal in Moscow at the World Championships." "In all competitions I enter, I aim for victory. From what I can see, the worlds best athletes will come to Doha and I want to thank the organisers for setting up such a high standard competition because it will really help push myself to the limit", said Mutaz who will fight for victory against World Champion Jesse Williams from the USA, Olympic bronze medallist and reigning European Champion, Briton Robbie Grabarz, Russias 2013 European Indoor Championships winner Sergey Mudrov and current Vice World Champion Aleksey Dmitrik. The name of the younger Barshim, Moamer, the 2012 Asian Junior Champion, is included in the line up as well. Dahlran further said that thanks to the patronage of HH the Emir and HH the Heir Apparent and support of Qatar Olympic Committee, the Athletics Federation will seek to provide a championship in a new starring face to be added to the Qatari achievements , especially the Doha competition is the first of 13 World Tour in 11 countries from three continents. The QAF's chairman added that the early preparations by the organizing committee reflects the due keenness of the Qatari prestige excellence in sport at world level in general and athletics in particular. For his part, Mutaz, who was third in the Doha meeting in 2011 but missed out on the 2012 edition due to injury, calls the residents of Doha to embrace the Diamond League and encourage all athletes to give their best: "I want to invite everyone to come and watch closely the Doha 2013 Diamond League meeting. Very few cities around the world are privileged to host such a high class event." David Rudisha on his part, will meet Kitum again in Doha in what is expected to be a thrilling race with the presence of London 6th place finisher and reigning World Indoor Champion, Ethiopias 19-year old Mohamed Aman, adding more quality to this exciting race. Aman, the 2012 Diamond Race winner, is the only 800m runner who defeated Rudisha not once but twice since the Kenyans semi-final exit at the 2009 Berlin World Championships. London 800m "Race of the Century" relives in Doha: The 800m final in the London Olympics was a race to remember with the World record falling at the hands of David Rudisha, while Kenyas 18-year-old Timothy Kitum set the best time for third place finishing in 1:42.53, a time faster than the previous Olympic record.(QNA)