Qatari 400m hurdler Abderrahman Samba (pictured) will be a relaxed man going into the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha.
“I don’t feel pressure because it will be my home,” said Samba, while speaking to IAAF Inside Athletics, who last year set an Asian 400m hurdles record of 46.98.
Samba is aiming to follow in the footsteps of Qatari high jumper Mutaz Barshim and attain ‘champion’ status in the coming years.
“Mutaz (Barshim, the world high jump champion) is a great champion and we have learned a lot from him. I consider him as a role model in athletics and I try to follow his example. Hopefully one day I will be a champion like him.
Barshim has won two medals in high jump at the last two Olympics in London and Rio besides has the World Champ[ion time against his name. He is one the athletes who will be taking part in the World Championship and medal hopeful for the host nation.
“Looking back to the 2017 World Championships where I hit a hurdle and tripped, I was very disappointed after the race, especially because my coach, the managing staff and the president of the federation were all present.
But these people are the cornerstones that enabled me to come back stronger than before and with more motivation to be the best,” Samba said about his participation in the last World Championships in London.
“I’ve had so much support since then, it has given me a big boost in morale,” he added. “I have to remember that the World Championships was just a setback and I must learn from it.
“My time (46.98) is very good but I don’t consider it enough, especially at the moment because several athletes are getting close to the world record. My goal may be bigger than the world record.
