LONDON: Long jumper Hussain Al-Saba and middle distance runner Mohammed Al-Salihi disappointed yet again at the worlds, but will have two more chances to make their country proud at the Weltklasse Zürich (IAAF Golden League) in Zurich on Aug. 28, and then at the Memorial Van Damme (IAAF Golden League) in Brussels in Sept. 5.
With expectations riding high on these two athletes, their performances in the 12th World Athletics Championships at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin proved a big disappointment for Saudi fans.
According to coach Saad Shadda, who supervises Al-Salihi, “They should make it up in the Golden League tournaments. What happened in the World Championship this year is a big disappointment.
Al-Salihi and Al-Saba are to be blamed for sure for the poor effort, especially after their overall year’s record had been very promising. But they ruined it in Berlin. They did not put even 60 percent of their energy in their efforts in Berlin.”
He added, Al-Saba had been to the World Championships five times since 1999, and Al-Salihi four times since 2003 and that they were pressured is no excuse for these athletes. He added, they should hold their strength back and prepare for the 2nd Islamic Solidarity Games to be held in Iran in October, the 18th Asian Athletics Championships in Guangzhou, China, in November and the Arab Athletics Championship in Syria in October.
Meanwhile, Thursday proved another disappointing day for the Saudis when their last hope failed to secure a medal.
Despite Al-Salihi’s best effort of 1:43.66 seconds in the 800 meters in Doha in May this year, he could only finish fourth in the qualification round with a time of 1:48.43 and did not advance.
Al-Saba, 30, jumped over a distance of 7.99 meters to place ninth while Mohammed Al-Khuwalidi, 28, came 18th with 7.66 meters in the qualification rounds. On the same day, Hussain Al-Yami, in the 5,000 meters, came 12th and failed to qualify for the second round after clocking 13:44.59 seconds.
Earlier Mohammed Shaween, 23, came sixth and did not pass the first round in the 1,500 meters, with the best achievement for the Saudi Arabian team in Berlin coming from shot putter Sultan Al-Hebshi, who placed ninth after a throw of 20.04 meters.
