London, August 07 (QNA) – Qatar sports fans will be focused today on watching talented high jumper Barshim Mutaz Essa who is strong medal contender with a personal best mark of 2.37 meters when the London Olympics events start today. Although riding on good form and a million prayers, Barshim’s faces tough and established performers like Russian Ivan Ukhov who looms large over the field with a best effort of 2.40m. Compatriot Silnov Andrey with 2.38m is not far behind and would be eyeing a repeat of his victory at the 2008 Beijing Games. World champion Jesse Williams of the USA and Great Britain’s Robbie Grabarz are also strong contenders.
Meanwhile, thousands of spectators are set to flock to Hyde Park once again to watch the men s Triathlon on a day that another 21 gold medals will be won at London 2012.
A huge crowd gathered in the famous London park to watch Nicola Spirig of Switzerland win the women’s Triathlon in a dramatic finish on Saturday. And the men’s race also promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with British brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee strongly fancied to do battle for the gold medal.
The athletes start with a 1.5km swim then face a 43km cycling stage before finishing with a 10km run, and the brothers from Leeds can expect plenty of support as they bid to add to Team GB’s medal haul.
At the Olympic Stadium, Australian world champion Sally Pearson goes for gold in the women’s 100m Hurdles final in the evening. Pearson is the hot favourite to improve on her silver medal success in Beijing four years ago, but USA duo Kellie Wells and Lolo Jones are also contenders.
The men’s 1500m final also promises to be a great battle, with world and Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop bidding to retain the title he won in Beijing four years ago.
Great Britain have high hopes for more glory in the Velodrome, with Chris Hoy going for gold in the men’s Keirin and Victoria Pendleton also aiming to return to the top of the podium by winning the women s Sprint. The women’s Omnium medals will also be decided on another mouthwatering day of Track Cycling competition.
More high quality Artistic Gymnastics will be on show at ExCeL, with four finals taking place on Day 11. Medals will be up for grabs in the women’s Balance Beam and women’s Floor competition, while the men will compete in the Horizontal Bars and Parallel Bars finals.
There will also be Greco-Roman Wrestling medals at stake at ExCeL in the men’s 66kg and the men’s 96kg. And Table Tennis medals will also be won at ExCeL in the women’s Team event.
There are more medal races to look forward to at Weymouth and Portland in men and women’s Windsurfer (RS-X). Greenwich Park will play host to the Team Dressage final, with Great Britain, Germany and the Netherlands considered to be the leading medal contenders.
In Synchronised Swimming, the women’s Duet final takes place in the afternoon, while the men’s 3m Springboard Diving final will also feature at the Aquatics Centre. Weightlifting medals will also be won at ExCeL in the men s +105kg category in the evening. (QNA)
