Accompanied by HE Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Secretary General of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and Chairman of the Organizing Committee at an international press conference, held at QOC headquarters Thursday, Diack appreciated the support of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani in backing athletics in Qatar.

The IAAF President also stressed upon the attendance and expects encouraging back-up from the local and expatriates living in Qatar and neighbouring countries which will play the key role in the success of the event.

Mr. Diack highlighted the development of Qatari Sport since 1997, when Doha hosted the IAAF Athletics Grand Prix.

HE Sheikh Saoud reaffirmed that Doha is proud to host the 2010 WIC and the selection of Qatar to host the event reflects the renaissance of Qatari sport in light of the continual support of HH the Emir and HH the Heir Apparent.

HE Sheikh Saoud elaborated on Qatar’s experience from hosting the 15th Asian Games, DOHA 2006, and being rewarded the rights to host the inaugural round of IAAF Diamond League on May 14, 2010.

Talal Mansour was the first Qatari athlete to offer to his country a World Indoor Championships medal. He finished third in the 60 m race in 1993 in Toronto, Canada with a time of 6.57. Mohamed Suleiman narrowly missed a medal in 1995 in Paris, France as he finished 4th in the 3000 m with a time of 7.51.73.

The last man who represented Qatar and found a way to the podium was Saif Saaeed Shaheen. The 3000 m steeplechase world record holder was second in the 3000 m race in the 2006 Moscow Indoor Championships.

James Kwalia who will represent Qatar in the Doha World Indoor Championships took a taste of a world indoor final two years ago in Valencia, where he finished 9th in the 3000 m race with a time of 8.00.44. Next year in Berlin he took the bronze medal in the 2009 World Outdoor Championships in Berlin, in the 5000 m race and recently he triumphed in the Asian Indoor Games. Who knows, maybe James Kwalia will be the next athlete to bring a World Indoors medal to the host country, that will take part in the IAAF 2010 World Indoor Championships in Doha with a record number of seven athletes in five different events.

QATARI ATHLETES THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE WIC

DOHA, March 09, 2010 - The PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST for the IAAF World Indoor Championships, Doha, Qatar is now available.

The PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST as @ 8 March 2010 is available as a pdf download.

NB. Official Start Lists will only become available after the Technical Meeting which takes place on Thursday 11 March, beginning at 15:00hrs local time (GMT +3hrs).

Download file: PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST

Men’s 60m

In a wide open event USA’s former World Junior 100m champion Ivory Williams is among the lead medal contenders following his world season leading 6.49 sec to secure the US Indoor title.

His team-mate Michael Rodgers (6.52) finished runner-up to Williams at the US Championships in Albuquerque and is another threat.

Chief danger to the US-duo is World No.2 Dwain Chambers, who recorded 6.50 to land the British title. Chambers, 31, shared the silver medal at the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Valencia and will be hoping to reproduce the form which took him to a stunning European record of 6.42 last year.

Jamaica has, surprisingly, never struck gold in this event, but Olympic 4×100m gold medallist Nesta Carter (6.54) and Lerone Clarke (6.55) will be keen to create history for their country.

Antigua’s Daniel Bailey (6.54), the fourth place finisher over 100m at the 2009 outdoor World Championships, is another with the pedigree to podium.

Qatar’s hopes rest with Samuel Francis (6.58), who struck 60m gold at the Asian Indoor Championships in Iran last month.

Other names to watch include; Great Britain’s Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (6.55) and Churandy Martina of the Netherlands Antilles (6.58).

Men’s 400m

Surprisingly, the USA has secured only one gold medal in the last seven editions of the World Indoor Championships but Bershawn Jackson will be fancied to enhance that relatively modest recent record.

Jackson, the 2005 World 400m Hurdles champion, took the US indoor title on the flat in an impressive 45.41 sec and will take all the beating in Doha. His countryman Jamaal Torrance (45.76) finished runner-up behind Jackson at the US Championships and is another podium threat.

Two-time European Indoor 400m champion David Gillick will be hoping to threaten the US challenge and signalled his medal intentions by equalling his Irish record of 45.52 in Birmingham in his sole indoor outing so far this winter.

Chris Brown of the Bahamas (46.20), the two-time World Indoor bronze medallist, is a consistent performer and  must be respected. The Russian duo Dmitry Buryak and Denis Alekseyev both recorded 46.21 at their national indoor championships and could also feature. Australian Sean Wroe, fresh from a 45.40 outdoor clocking in Sydney, is another to be considered.

Men’s 800m

Two years ago in Valencia Abubaker Kaki became the youngest ever winner of a World Indoor title and the Sudanese athlete returns to defend his title. Kaki, 20, was an impressive winner in Stuttgart and Stockholm during this indoor campaign and with a season best time of 1:46.29 he looks a decent bet to become the first man since Kenyan Paul Ereng to complete back-to-back World Indoor 800m titles.

The champion’s main challenger could be his team-mate Ismail Ahmed Ismail (1:45.99), the Olympic 800m silver medallist, and one of the world’s most consistent 800m performers.

Boaz Lalang (1:46.37) is the sole entrant from Kenya, but after registering a victory at the Millrose Games in New York he must be respected.

Nick Symmonds (1:47.59), the US indoor champion and 2008 World Indoor finalist, is a growing force in the world of 800m running and will also fancy his chances.

The European challenge is led by Adam Kszczot (1:46.00) the 20-year-old Polish champion and Czech Jakob Holusa, who set a national record of 1:46.09 in Karlsruhe. Look out too for the Spanish duo – Luis Alberto Marco (1:47.13) and the teenager David Bustos (1:47.23).

Men’s 1500m

Ethiopian Deresse Mekonnen mounts the defence of his 1500m title on the back of a, so far, flawless season. Top of the world lists with 3:33.10 following his impressive victory in Birmingham the world outdoor 1500m silver medallist will be out to solidify his growing championship reputation.

Kenya has, surprisingly, triumphed only once in this event (Paul Korir in 2004) but they have two decent chances in Gideon Gathimba (3:35.40) and Haron Keitany (3.35.69). The latter athlete in particular must be considered a serious threat after recording an outdoor personal best of 3:30.20 last year.

Morocco’s Abdalaati Iquider, the fifth place finisher in the Olympic final, recorded 3:34.68 to win in Leipzig and is another with medal potential.

Look out also for Spanish pair, Diego Ruiz (3:37.86) and Alvaro Rodriguez (3:38.06), and French Olympic steeplechase silver medallist Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbab (3:37.52).

Men’s 3000m

Bernard Lagat will aim to recapture the title he first took six years ago in Moscow and further add his impressive collection of precious metal. The 35-year-old ‘Peter Pan’ of middle-distance running bagged the US 3000m title last month and a record-breaking eighth victory in the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games suggests he is fine fettle.
Defending champion Tariku Bekele, of Ethiopia, will not give-up his title without a fight. The younger brother of distance running legend Kenenisa, is himself in good shape and sits second on the world lists after his 7:31.78 clocking in Stockholm.

Bekele’s countryman Abrehem Cherkos, 20, was a bronze medallist two years ago in Valencia and is another with medal credentials.

World season leader Augustine Choge (7:31.75) of Kenya is another with aspirations of climbing the top tier of the podium and his team-mate Sammy Mutahi (7:32.02), who has made a real advance this indoor season, cannot be discounted.

Qatar’s hopes rest with James Kwalia, the World 5000m bronze medallist in Berlin.

The European challenge is led by the Spanish duo Sergio Sanchez, who set a European record of 7:32.41 in Valencia, and European outdoor 5000m champion Jesus Espana (7:45.60).

Men’s 60m Hurdles

Defending champion Liu Xiang makes his first appearance at a global championship since withdrawing injured from his 110m Hurdles heat in front of his adoring home fans at the Beijing Olympic Games. The Chinese athlete underwent surgery on his Achilles in December 2008 and returns to the big time in Doha. He has made just one indoor appearance so far, a modest 8.05sec outing in Shanghai.

Olympic 110m Hurdles champion Dayron Robles was another to suffer an injury disrupted 2009 campaign, but with a season’s best of 7.44 the Cuban will be keen to secure his first World Indoor crown. He will want to forget his last World Indoor experience when a misjudgement at the start cost him a qualification spot from the heat.

World season No.1 Terrence Trammell of the USA will aim to match the achievements of his countryman Allen Johnson and land a third World Indoor 60m Hurdles title. Trammell blasted to his world season leading 7.41 to take the US indoor crown and looks in great form.

Watch out too for Olympic 110m Hurdles bronze medallist David Oliver (7.49), another returning from an injury ravaged 2009. Meanwhile, Czech Petr Svoboda is a potential dark horse after lowering his national record to an impressive 7.44.

Other contenders include; European Indoor champion Ladji Doucoure of France (7.58), the 2008 World Indoor bronze medallist Yevgeniy Borisov (7.58), Hungarian national record holder Daniel Kiss (7.56), and Shamar Sands (7.54) of the Bahamas.

Men’s High Jump

Russia look well placed to land gold courtesy of their powerful two-pronged attack led by World season No.1 Ivan Ukhov. The European Indoor champion seeks to add the indoor global title and with an impressive season’s best of 2.38m he will take some stopping. His team-mate Yaroslav Rybakov will provide formidable opposition, however. The world outdoor champion has competed sparingly during the indoor campaign but a best of 2.32m suggests he is more than capable of recapturing the title he claimed in 2006.

The US also provide a big threat, led by US champion Jesse Williams (2.34m). His countryman Dusty Jonas (2.32m) should also not be discounted.

Kyriakos Iaonnou (2.30m) has proved the consummate championship performer in recent seasons, winning world indoor bronze two years ago and World outdoor silver in Berlin. Expect the Cypriot to also be in the mix.
Watch out also for Finland’s Oksu Torro (2.32m), Dmytro Dem’yanyuk of Ukraine (2.31m) and Germany’s Martin Gunther (2.30m).

Men’s Pole Vault

Aussie Steve Hooker starts favourite to add the World indoor crown to his already impressive titles collection. The Olympic and World outdoor champion has yet to compete indoors this season, but five outdoor appearances, including a hugely impressive 5.91m in Sydney suggest he is prime shape.

His main opposition is likely to come from World outdoor bronze medallist Renaud Lavillenie. The French athlete heads the indoor world lists following a 5.85m clearance to land his national title, although fourth place finishes in New York and Stuttgart hint at some vulnerability.

The German challenge is led by Malte Mohr (5.83m) and is ably supported by Alexander Straub (5.75m), the European indoor bronze medallist.

Russian national champion Dmitry Starodubtsev (5.70m) and his team-mate World University Games gold medallist Aleksandr Gripich (5.70m) also most be respected.

The US provide a pair of 37-year-old’s as Tim Mack, the 2004 Olympic champion, and Derek Miles, the 2008 Olympic fourth-placer, rolled back the years with successful 5.70m vaults at the US Indoor championships.

Michal Balner (5.76m) of the Czech Republic, Kevin Rans (5.71m) of Belgium and Maksym Mazuryk (5.70m) of Ukraine, fourth in the outdoor 2009 World Championships in Berlin, also have chances.

Men’s Long Jump

Defending champion Godfrey Mokoena of South Africa has not yet registered an indoor mark this season, but an impressive 8.22m at an outdoor meeting in Durban suggest the World outdoor and Olympic silver medallist is the man to beat.

His main rivals could be Australian duo Mitchell Watt and Fabrice Lapierre, the bronze medallist and fourth place finishers, respectively, from last summer’s World Championships in Berlin. Watt has a best of 8.16m this season from four outdoor competitions. However, note the Olympic champion Irving Saladino is also entered. The Panamanian has yet to compete this year, so it is impossible to gauge his form, but should he take his place on the runway at the Aspire Dome he will be a major medal threat.

Salim Sdiri, the 2007 European Indoor bronze medallist, leads the world seasonnlists after an impressive 8.24m to land the French title. Sdiri’s compatriot Kafetien Gomis leapt to 8.21m in the same competition and the pair will be brimming full of confidence in Doha. Cuba’s Wilfredo Martinez, the 2008 Olympic fifth-placer, has been consistently over the 8m mark this year and a best indoor mark of 8.18m bodes well.

Other names to watch out for include; Brian Johnson of the US (8.19m), Viktor Kuznyetsov of the Ukraine (8.11m), German champion Christian Reif (8.10m) and the British duo Greg Rutherford (7.94m) and Chris Tomlinson (7.99m), the 2008 World Indoor silver medallist.

Men’s Triple Jump

With Britain’s reigning champion Phillips Idowu deciding to withdraw for personal reasons, the focus will fall on Sweden’s former champion Christian Olsson.

The Swede makes his eagerly awaited return to big-time championship competition after three injury ravaged years aiming to become the first man in history to land three World Indoor Triple Jump titles. The 2003 and 2004 champion has made positive strides in each of his three competitions this winter and will be lifted by his victory in Birmingham in a season’s best 17.25m.

Italy’s evergreen European Indoor champion Fabrizio Donato leads the world season lists with an eye-catching leap of 17.39m to land his national title and will be another threat. Cuba boast a fine tradition in the Triple Jump and Yoandris Betanzos (17.30m), the two-time World Indoor bronze medallist, and his countryman Arnie David Girat (17.27m) have podium potential.

Watch out also for the 2006 World Indoor champion Walter Davis of the USA (16.99m) and two-time World Indoor silver medallist Jadel Gregorio (16.92m) of Brazil.

Men’s Shot Put

Christian Cantwell seeks to become the first man in history to snare three World Indoor Shot Put title and is clearly the man to beat. The 2004 and 2008 champion has looked in imperious form this season and the US athlete leads the world season lists following his monster 21.95m effort in New York.

Belarus provides a dangerous two-man force led by the 2006 World Indoor silver medallist Andrei Mikhnevich, who posted a national record of 21.81m earlier this season. Meanwhile his team-mate Pavel Lyzhyn, the European Indoor silver medallist, has found a rich vein of form, registering a lifetime best of 21.12m in January.

Reigning Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski of Poland has not quite found his range so for this indoor campaign with a best of 20.86m, but is not without chances. Germany’s Ralf Bartels (21.02m), the 2009 World outdoor bronze medallist, is another consistent championship performer who has the ability to climb the podium.

Men’s 4×400m

The US have struck gold in this event in seven of the last nine editions and it is difficult to oppose them again. US indoor champion Bershawn Jackson leads a powerful looking squad which includes US runner-up Jamaal Torrance and World 400m Hurdles champion and World Indoor 400m record- holder Kerron Clement.

Expect the Bahamas led by Chris Brown, the two-time World Indoor bronze medallist, and Jamaica to figure prominently. Russia, Belgium, France, Ireland and Great Britain may also harbour medal chances.

Women’s 60m

The focus here is on one of the most anticipated head-to-head clashes of the weekend which could result in the first sub-seven second dash at the World Indoor Championships since 1999.

US Virgin Islander Laverne Jones-Ferrette jumped to the fore in a big way in Stuttgart last month when she dashed to a sizzling 6.97, the fastest run in 11 years. With four other performances at 7.10 or faster, the 28-year-old, who didn’t advance beyond the semis in the last two World Indoor Championships, will be gunning for gold this time around. But she’ll have to get past American Carmelita Jeter.

Jeter, a two-time 100m bronze medallist outdoors, made her splash late last year with a pair of sensational late season 100m runs, first a 10.67 in Thessalonki and a 10.64 in Shanghai to move all the way up to No. 2 all-time. And she’s been quick indoors, too. Second to Jones-Ferrette in Stuttgart in 7.05, she returned the favour in Birmingham two weeks later when she edged her new rival by the slimmest of margins as both clocked 7.06. Taking full advantage of Albuquerque’s altitude, she went even faster at the US championships clocking 7.02.

Also expected in the hunt will be two-time Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown. Although the Jamaican is well behind on paper with a 7.14 season’s best, conventional wisdom would suggest that she wouldn’t be making her first trip to a World Indoor Championships if she wasn’t fully prepared. Meanwhile the US runner-up (7.14 SB) Mikele Barber will be looking to emulate her twin sister, Me’Lisa, who took the World Indoor title in Moscow in 2006.

Women’s 400m

Here we’ll expect a Russia-USA showdown as runners from the two powerhouses have largely dominated the tail end of the season. Debbie Dunn capped her consistent indoor campaign with a quick and world-leading 50.86 to take the US title, albeit at altitude, after collecting a victory in Stockholm and a pair or runner-up finishes in Glasgow and Moscow.

At the latter, she was defeated by Tatyana Firova who two weeks later cruised to a career best 51.22 in the heats of the Russian championships. That final resulted in a photo finish where she was inseparable from Natalya Nazarova – both stopped the clock at 51.39 – who will be joining her in Doha. If experience matters – and it certainly does – Nazarova, who sped to the World Indoor crowns in 2003 and 2004 and finished runner-up in 2008, will be difficult to beat.

US runner-up Deedee Trotter (51.23), who will be making her first World Indoor appearance, is rounding into form at the right time.

Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills, the winner in Birmingham in 52.03 and a finalist indoors in 2006, is expected to be a factor, as is Aliann Pompey, twice a World indoor semi-finalist, who clocked a 51.83 Guyanese record in January.

Women’s 800m

A year after claiming the European Indoor title, Russian Mariya Savinova is poised to take an even bigger step in Doha.  Working on her speed and endurance, the 24-year-old has raced well this winter over several distances, lowering her personal bests in both the 400m (52.05) and the 1500m (4:08.2), and producing key 800m victories at the Russian Winter meeting (1:59.23) and at the national championships. At the latter she beat world season leader Yevgeniya Zinurova by a second-and-a-half.

Impressive too has been Briton Jenny Meadows, who has won four of her five races this season. Last year’s World bronze medallist outdoors, Meadows has gotten consistently faster indoors this season, capped by a national record 1:59.11 at the UK championships. Her only loss came at the hands of Savinova at the Russian Winter.

Keep an eye on the versatile Anna Pierce (formerly Willard), who took the US title in 2:00.84, and who has rapidly gained a reputation of her own as a scrappy and decisive racer.  A sub-four 1500m runner outdoors, the American collected four impressive 800m wins last season, beating strong fields, including at the World Athletics Final.

Zinurova, who has paced the world since clocking 1:58.65 at the Moscow championships in mid-February, will be making her first major championship appearance. Yuliya Krevsun (2:00:36) of Ukraine and Poland’s rising Angelika Cichocka (2:00.86) have also dipped under 2:01 this winter.

Women’s 1500m

An Ethiopian 1-2? Reigning champion Geleta Burka and the teenaged upstart Kalkidan Gezahegne would like to think so.

The 24-year-old Burka made two appearances over the distance this winter, producing two of the season’s four quickest times. Her closest race was in Stuttgart where she out-sprinted European champion Anna Alminova, 4:03:44 to 4:03.88, season’s bests for both. For good measure, she also took home a fast Mile victory in Birmingham where she got the better of Gezahegne, 4:23.53 to 4:24.10. Still hurting (inside anyway) from the fall which likely cost her a medal at last year’s World Championships in Berlin, Burka will perhaps want this victory more than anyone else.

Gezahegn, still only 18, struck World junior silver over the distance in 2008 and was strong and savvy enough to reach the World Championships final last August. Her 4:03.28 world season leader, the fastest ever indoor run by a junior, came in Stockholm one month ago, where she too outran Alminova by more than a second.

That’s two scores to settle for Alminova, who emerged last year as one of the most versatile middle distance runners in Europe. A third score came at the Russian indoor championships where she and Yevgeniya Zolotova were inseparable at the line resulting in a unique shared title. Like Burka, she too left Berlin disappointed after failing to reach the final.

Although she’s only raced once (4:24.71 for third in the Birmingham Mile) two-time outdoor World champion Maryam Jamal of Bahrain is certainly a threat. Kenyan colours will be carried by Irene Jelagat, the 2006 World junior champion. Spaniard Natalia Rodriguez, who was disqualified for causing Burka’s tumble in Berlin last summer, will also be aiming to make amends.

Women’s 3000m

At just 26, Meseret Defar has already created quite a bit of history on the track. In Doha she’ll be looking to add a little more to that legacy as she chases an unprecedented fourth consecutive title in the event.

The Ethiopian has hit the track twice this winter, winning the Stuttgart 3000 in 8:24.46 (No. 3 performance all-time) and the Stockholm 5000m in 14:24.79 (No. 2 all-time), both world leaders. Needless to say, the World record holder in both events indoors is fully prepared to break her tie with this event’s other three-time winner, Gabriela Szabo.

Among those in the chase pack will be her compatriot Setayehu Ejigu who displayed her form in Stuttgart where her chase of Defar resulted in an 8:25.27 performance, the fourth fastest performance ever. Fourth four years ago, she’ll be eager for a podium finish here.

But the bigger threat to Defar’s quest will be the reigning World 5000m champion outdoors, Vivian Cheruiyot. The Kenyan suffered a narrow defeat to Tirunesh Dibaba over Two Miles in Birmingham, her only track appearance this winter, but most recently showed solid form with 31:07 victory over 10km in San Juan where she took down a very strong field.

Sylvia Kibet, who finished second to Cheruiyot in Berlin last summer, is the Kenyan No. 2.

Women’s 60m Hurdles

Like many of the battles at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver last month, this event is shaping into one between Canada and the USA. Canadian Priscilla Lopes-Schliep, a medallist at the 2008 Olympics and the World Championships last year, arrives as the world leader at 7.82. But the 27-year-old has struggled in her two appearances since that performance in Stuttgart.

Returning World champion Lolo Jones arrives as the year’s second fastest at 7.85 and more consistent than any other leading candidates for gold: she’s won only two of her seven outings but never finished further back than second. But history won’t be on the American’s side: no woman has ever successfully defended the title in this event.

The U.S. title went to Ginnie Powell in an altitude-assisted 7.87, the only victory in the 26-year-old’s mostly domestic campaign. Momentum may be with Cuban Anay Tejeda, who won in Lievin last Friday, where she beat Powell, Lopes-Schliep and Belgium’s Eline Berings, the European champion, who is also entered.

There are always surprises. In Moscow four years ago, Irishwoman Derval O’Rourke shocked a formidable field, riding a wave of momentum and national records to an unlikely triumph. She too is in the field.

Women’s High Jump

Even before her chief rival, Germany’s European Indoor champion Ariane Friedrich, was forced to withdraw due to injury, Blanka Vlasic was considered the prohibitive favourite. If nothing else, the recent trend in the event is in the Croatian’s favour: the two women she succeeded as indoor champion in Barcelona two years ago, Kajsa Bergqvist and Yelena Slesarenko, each won back-to-back titles.

But Vlasic prefers to set her own trends. In yet another busy and dominant indoor season, Vlasic has produced the season’s three best efforts and five of the top six, capped by her 2.06m clearance in Arnstadt to move into a tie as the No. 3 jumper all-time indoors. Attempts on Bergqvist’s 2.08m World record, which has stood for four years, are commonplace. No less should be expected here: at Doha’s outdoor meeting Vlasic has already taken six shots at the World record outdoors.

With Friedrich on the sidelines, other medal contenders include Spain’s Ruth Beitia, a two-time European silver medalist indoors who has leaped 2.00m this year; Friedrich’s compatriot Meike Kröger, who joined the two-metre club at the German Championships; and Russians Svetlana Shkolina and Irina Gordeeva.

Women’s Pole Vault

Yelena Isinbayeva is undeniably the finest women’s pole vaulter ever. She’s jumped more than 15 cemtimetres higher than anyone else, taken home titles too numerous to count, and has thus far set 27 World records. Clearly, there isn’t a stronger gold medal favourite arriving in the Qatari capital this week. Pretty much the same was written about the Russian star in the build up to last summer’s World Championships, and we all remember what transpired there. Especially Isinbayeva.

She admitted that complacency got the better of her in the German capital last year when she famously no-heighted, leaving the rest of the world – as well as the rest of the field – scratching their heads. She promised later that such an episode wouldn’t be repeated.

Isinbayeva has competed twice this year, on both occasions clearing 4.85m before attempting to collect World record No. 28. A similar scenario is expected in Doha.

This season it’s Brazil’s Fabiana Murer, the 2008 bronze medallist, that is leading the challengers. In two of her three competitions this winter the 28-year-old has raised her own South American record indoors, first to 4.81m in Stuttgart and again to 4.82m in Birmingham late last month.

Poland’s Anna Rogowska, who took the World title in Berlin, is near her best this year, with a season’s best of 4.81. Russian No. 2 Svetlana Feofanova, whom Isinbayeva succeeded, remains a medal threat, with a 4.75m best this season.

Women’s Long Jump

Can Brittney Reese pick up where she left off last year? The answer is, quite likely, yes.

The 23-year-old impressively took the World title outdoors last year with a 7.10m leap, and will arrive in Doha as the world leader after a 6.89m leap in the altitude of Albuquerque to take the US title. Despite that obvious assistance from the rarified air, Reese has already earned the reputation as a fierce competitor, and will be hard to beat this weekend.

Depending upon which two of the three Russians provisionally entered will compete, they will put forth a stiff challenge. Junior Darya Klishina has sailed 6.87m this winter, but only finished third at the Russian championships, behind winner Anna Nazarova (6.75m) and seasoned international Tatyana Kotova (6.74m), herself a former three-time champion.

Others looking for a big day will be Germany’s quickly improving Sostene Moguenara (6.75 PB, SB) and Portugal’s Naide Gomes (6.70 SB).

Women’s Triple Jump

Fittingly, Yargeris Savigne, the reigning World champion indoors and outdoors, has provided the only spark in an otherwise lacklustre season in this event, and she’ll clearly start as the woman to beat.

The Cuban has competed only once in her specialty, but her 14.84m winner in Dusseldorf last month is a massive 40 centimetres better than her nearest rival on paper, Anastasiya Taranova-Potapova, who took the Russian title with a 14.44m leap. Only four others have managed even the 14.40m barrier this winter, and of those, only two are expected in Doha: Russian veteran Anna Pyatykh and Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan.

Based on experience alone, the 28-year-old Pyatykh, with a pair of World outdoor bronze medals and a World Indoor silver from 2006, is most likely to rise to the occasion.

Women’s Shot Put

Nadzeya Ostapchuk sent the Shot Put world into a spin last month when she blasted a 21.70m bomb at the Belarus national championships. The mark elevated the 29-year-old, who took home World Indoor silver in 2001, 2003 and 2008, to the No. 3 position all-time indoors with the fourth furthest performance. No one – besides Ostapchuk herself on the same day, with a 21.23 effort – has come remotely close this year.  Although she hasn’t competed since, she’ll nonetheless be starting as favourite.

In that same competition, her Doha teammate and reigning Olympic silver medallist Natalia Mikhnevich, was second with a 20.28m toss, the only other indoor performer to reach beyond the 20-metre mark indoors this season. Not a bad one-two punch for Belarus. But they’ll nonetheless have a fight on their hands courtesy of the defending champion.

New Zealander Valerie Vili, the two-time defending World champion outdoors and reigning Olympic champion, has been consistent in her three outdoor appearances, capped by a 20.57m effort in Sydney late last month, the third furthest throw of her career.

Others expected in the mix include Romanian Anca Heltne (19.90m PB, SB), German Nadine Kleinert (19.19 SB), and China’s Gong Lijiao (18.82m). Kleinert and Gong finished second and third behind Vili in Berlin last August.

4×400m Relay

Russia has won this event for eight consecutive championships, and will start again as the favourite this year as well.  But the US squad, which has collected three silver and five bronze medals in the event, comes armed with three-time World 200m champion Allyson Felix, who also has one Olympic and two World 4×400m gold medals to her credit.

In  last weekend, a delegate of 2010 WIC  marking committee arrived in Dukhan city on west coast of Qatar on the sideline of beach volleyball championship organised there by Qatar Petroleum.

The WIC committee members delivered a  brief summary about the 2010 World Indoor championship and exposed  some tickets for sale to around 5,000 fans who overwhelmingly responded to the committee offer.

In another productive move, a delegation headed by Abdulrahman Mosallam Al Dossari, 2010 WIC marking committee chief visited Ras Lafan area to promote for the event.

During Ras Lafan’s visit the organizers covered commercial mall and employee housing complex, where  they briefed residents there on 2010 WIC events and program,  as well as they distributed  some booklets and tickets related to the championship.
Mr.  Al Dosari told reporters that such visits mainly aim to reach  the remote areas of the country, in attempt to enlighten people about the event and to conduct tickets – sale campaign.

According to statistics of 2010 WIC marketing committee  80% of tickets were sold until now , three days before the championship kick – off.

On other hand, Mr. Lamine Diack, the president of International Association of Athletics Federation, will arrive in Doha on Wednesday to chair the IAAF’s executive office meetings on march 15 and 16 respectively.

As announced by  2010 WIC organizers, 200  skilled volunteers  from different working committees will  provide public service during the championship.

The 31 year-old, who won the world indoor crown in Valencia two years ago and added the outdoor title in Berlin last summer, said the recent birth of his second child had interrupted his preparations for the championships and he no longer felt able to do himself justice.

“I am gutted not to be representing the GB team in Doha and passing up the opportunity to defend my title,” he said.

“However, the late arrival of my baby boy has meant that my training has been severely disrupted and I decided after talking with my coach that I’d not had the preparation we agreed was needed to do the British team proud.

“I was hoping to avoid this by competing in a larger than usual number of events early in the season, but it hasn’t worked out that way.

“Instead I will increase the training with a focus on the European Championships in Barcelona. I wish the team the best of luck in Doha.”

Idowu’s duel with Sweden’s Christian Olsson had been one of the most eagerly awaited clashes of the three-day championships, which begin on Friday, and his absence means Britain will be without one of their best gold-medal prospects.

The country’s main hopes will now rest with Jessica Ennis in the pentathlon, Dwain Chambers in the 60 meters and Jenny Meadows in the 800m.

Charles van Commenee, UK Athletics’ head coach, said: “I am disappointed that Phillips is not competing this week as he was a clear medal prospect.

“However, I need to respect his decision and I look forward to him resuming winning ways in the summer.”

Isinbayeva set eight World records at this competition since her first appearance in 2004, but this time found her 5.00m standard well out of reach.

Entering the competition at 4.70m, the Russian sailed clear on her first attempt, and followed up with a first try success at 4.85 as well, equaling her 2010 world leading performance, and enough for the victory. Next came an assault on her own indoor World record set in this southeast Ukrainian city one year ago, but none of her three efforts at 5.01m were particularly close.

South American record holder Fabiana Murer, also the reigning World indoor bronze medalist, was the runner-up in her final pre-Doha tune-up, topping out at 4.70m. She took three shots at her own Area record (4.82m) when the bar went up to 4.85m, but missed.

Monika Pyrek of Poland was third at 4.60m, a height managed by four others as well – Russians Alexandra Kiryashova, Yuliya Golubchikova and Tatyana Polnova, and Jirina Ptacnikova of the Czech Republic.

Czerwinski, who was second at the Polish indoor championships a week ago, took a little time to find his rhythm. He needed a second attempt at his opening 5.52m, three at 5.62m and a pair at 5.72m before sealing the victory with a first attempt clearance at 5.82m. The mark exceeded both his previous indoor best of 5.70m, set in Donetsk in 2006, and his outdoor best of 5.80m, set later that same year.

Both Steve Lewis of Great Britain and Denys Yurchenko of Ukraine managed 5.72m, but Lewis sailed clear on his first try and the Ukrainian on his second.

Aggreko will be responsible for powering lighting and broadcasting units during the World Indoor Championships which takes place at the Aspire Dome from 12-14 March 2010.

Aggreko has already assisted the organizers by powering the full event rehearsal, which was held on 26 February 2010.

 Mr. Abdulrahman Al Dossari, Doha 2010 Marketing Manager and Director of Marketing & Public Relations at the Qatar Olympic Committee, said: “We are pleased to confirm Aggreko as our latest National Supplier. The organizing committee will rely on the tremendous global experience of Aggreko, which has managed the power needs of many major sporting events of this caliber, to provide us with power solutions and the expertise required to ensure broadcasters are able to deliver uninterrupted live action from the Aspire Dome to the world.” 

Mr. Phil Burns, Managing Director, Aggreko Middle East, said: “This is a significant contract win for the company as it further positions Aggreko as a power expert for the events industry. We look forward to working with the WIC organizing committee and being part of such a significant event in the Middle East this year.”

Meadows has started the new season in a similar vein of form, smashing Kelly Holmes’ seven-year old indoor 800m record to win at the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham.

And having been named as captain of the 38-strong British squad by UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee, Meadows admitted it was a timely confidence boost for the championships which start on March 12.

“It’s a huge pat on the back and hopefully I can lead by example,” said Meadows.

“There have been some fantastic people who have been team captain before and they have never let the team down.

“Hopefully I can do the same”.

While she deals with the responsibility of leading the British team, Meadows will also have to cope with the weighty expectation of being a medal contender in Doha.

The Wigan athlete’s British record of 1:59.11 minutes in Birmingham means she is the second fastest in the world this season behind Russia’s Yevgeniya Zinurova.

And Meadows admits she’s struggling to get used to the increased media attention ahead of the championships.

“All of a sudden, three weeks before Doha, everyone was saying that Jenny has the record and that she is a medal hope,” said Meadows, who finished fifth at the last World Indoor Championships in Valencia two years ago.

“It’s strange going into championships with those things written about you.

“I am in the perfect position where I want to be and it is important that I see it not as pressure but as support for me, rather than something that becomes a stressful thing.

“It helps to have that experience behind me now that I’m coming into the best form ever.

“Good or bad, I’m very grateful of the successes and the failures in the past.”