ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia’s World Athletics squad were given farewell at Hilton on Saturday as the 1,500 meters world record holder and 2015 world champion Genzebe Dibaba has withdrawn from the world championships that will start at the capital of Qatar, Doha, the coming Friday, 27 September. The World Championship will come to a close on 6 October.
Ethiopian is expected to be represented by 42 athletes both in men’s and women’s events at the 2019 IAAF World Championship at, Qatar. The athletes are expected to compete in 24 different events such as marathon, 10, 000 meters, 5, 000m, 1,500m, 3, 000m hurdles and 800m.
In men’s marathon Ethiopian representatives are Lelisa Desisa, Mosinet Geremew, Mule Wasihun and Shura Kitata while in the women’s event Roza Dereje, Ruti Aga and Shura Demise.
The 10, 000m men’s representatives are Hagos Gebrehiwot, Yomif Kejelcha, Anduamlak Belhu and Solomon Barega while Almaz Ayana, Letesenbet Gidey, Netsnet Gudeta, Senbere Teferi and Tsehay Gemechu will represent the country in 10, 000m events.
Hagos Gebrehiwot, Tilahun Haile, Solomon Barega, Abadi Hagos and Muktar Idris will race in men’s 5, 000m while Letesenbet Gidey, Hawi Feyisa, Fantu Worku and Tsehay Gemechu are the women’s representatives in 5, 000m.
In men’s 1, 500m Samuel Teferi and Tadele Lema while in women’s Gudaf Tsegaye, Axumawit Ambaye and Lemlem Hailu run in the same 1, 500m race.
Getnet Wale, Chala Bayu, Lemecha Girma and Takele Nigatu are taking part in 3, 000m hurdles while in the women’s event participants are Mekdes Abebe, Lome Tefera and Agere Belachew.
In the 10, 000m and 5, 000m men’s and women’s events the Ethiopians are expected to shine at Doha. Athletes like Solomon Barega, Hagos Gebrehiwot and Yomif Kejelcha are now in their best form. The Ethiopian trio may take the podium by enjoying a sweeping victory.
The same is expected for the women’s 10, 000m and 5, 000m race. Almaz Ayana, Letesenbet Gidey, Netsnet Gudeta, Senbere Teferi and Tsehay Gemechu are set to run in Doha in 10, 000m. The good thing is that Letesenbet and Tsehay Gemechu are also taking part in 5, 000m race. Letesenbet is now highly regarded to dominate the Doha event as her endurance and finishing capacity proved to be effective.
Genzebe is out of this line up due to a foot injury, her management company said last week Thursday.
The Ethiopian, who set a new 1500m world record in 2015 of 3:50.07 before clinching the world title in Beijing, was diagnosed with a partial rupture in her right foot after the Zurich Diamond League meeting in August, Pineda Sport said in a statement.
Along with the world record holder Genzebe Dibaba – one of Briton Laura Muir’s main rivals in the 1500m – has pulled out of the World Championships with a foot injury.
Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan, the mile world record holder, and world and Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon are among the favourites for the title.
European champion Muir has not raced since July because of a calf injury.
Genzebe who won silver at the 2016 Rio Games, is the younger sister of triple Olympic gold medalist Tirunesh.
Her withdrawal leaves Kenya’s defending champion and Olympic gold medalist Faith Kipyegon and Ethiopian-born Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan, who broke the world mile record (4:12.33) in July, as favourites for the title.
In another blow to the blue riband race at the global competition, Kenya’s 1,500m defending champion Elijah Manangoi announced earlier last week that he would not be defending his title due to injury.
Ethiopia earned her medal at the first World Championship at Helsinki in 1981 through Kebede Balcha in marathon after finishing second. In all the previous 16 World Championship Ethiopia’s total tally are 77 medals of which 25 are gold.
The Ethiopian athletics Federation expects to collect more medals at the 17th World Championship more than ever before.
This year the 17th edition of the World Championship came up with lucrative money prize that was unseen in the last 16 editions. This time winners for both men’s and women’s events will pocket 60 thousand US Dollars while the second placed will receive 40 thousand. The third place winners will collects USD 20, 000. The money prize will include athlete who stand up to eighth places.
The Ethiopian Herald September 24, 2019
BY SOLOMON BEKELE
