"VAN" (Sports Desk - 04.05.2026) :: Qatar’s 4x400m men’s relay team booked a historic berth at the World Athletics Championships by qualifying in a national record time for next year’s showpiece in Beijing, China. Qatar athletics added another proud milestone at a meet in Botswana when the men’s quartet registered a new national record of two minutes 59.83 seconds in the first round of the 4x400m relay to seal their place among the elite at Beijing 27. The team comprised Amar Ismail, Basem Mohammed, Youssef Abdulaziz and Ashraf Othamn, with Samer Hassan as reserve. Qatar Athletics Federation President Mohammed Issa Al Fadala praised the achievement, noting that qualifying from the first round while breaking the national record reflected a clear technical leap in the team’s development. He added that reaching the world final underlined the squad’s ability to compete at the highest international level. Qatar has previously won one Olympic gold medal in athletics – Mutaz Essa Barshim in the men’s high jump at Tokyo 2020.
On Mon, May 4, 2026