(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Abdalelah Haroun of Qatar is looking a class apart as he cruises towards double gold at the Ashgabat 2017 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.
But that should not be a surprise as, despite being just 20, the athlete has already proved he is among the best in the world.
At the IAAF World Championships in London this August, Haroun won 400m bronze to add to the silver he claimed over 400m at the World Indoors in Portland, USA, in 2016.
Those followed his 400m victories in 2015 at the Asian Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar, and the Asian Championships in Wuhan, China.
'I want to win both the 400m and 800m here and that's what I am ready to work for, said
Haroun. Still, it is a packed schedule he faces in the Indoor Athletics Arena having come through three races yesterday.
'I run what my coach tells me to, I am happy to work hard. It is what I enjoy doing, he added.
Haroun strolled round his 800m heat to win in 1min 56.06sec before returning to the track 70 minutes later and cruising through his 400m heat in 49.09.
After returning for the evening session, Haroun won his 400m semi-final in 48.38, again easing down on the home straight, to reach the final today, when he will also tackle his 800m semi-final around 40 minutes earlier.
The 800m final is tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the wait to find the continent's fastest male and female athletes is almost over.
With preliminary, semi-final and final of the men's and women's 60m races scheduled at the Indoor Athletics Arena today, there are some clear contenders for the coveted titles.
Hassan Taftian of Iran, the reigning Asian 100m champion, will be an overwhelming favourite. Last year, he had also won the Asian indoor sprint title.
Tosin Joseph Ogunode of Qatar, the 60m Asian indoor record holder, will be his key opponent. But Eric Shaun Cray of the Philippines, his country's 100m national record holder and the reigning 400m hurdles Asian champion, can be the proverbial dark horse. Amiya Kumar Mallick of India, the current Indian 100m record holder and a brief training partner of Jamaican Usain Bolt, could also prove to be a challenge.
Meanwhile, Viktoriya Zyabkina of Kazakhstan, the reigning Asian Indoor champion, is expected to do well in the women's 60m race. But Dutee Chand of India could make things difficult for Zybakina.
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