Qatari Mutaz Esa Bashim, the current strongest male high jumper and rival of Woo Sang-hyeok, declared that he would participate in the Hangzhou Asian Games (AG).
In an interview with the World Association of Athletics Federations, Basim said, “I like that the high jump and my name are mentioned together. I have achieved good results over the past 10 years, but I still want more achievements.” “The most important goal this season is to win the World Championships in Budapest in August and the Asian Games in Hangzhou.”
The World Association of Athletics Federations interviewed Bashim on the theme of the 2023 Diamond League opening game to be held in Doha, Qatar on May 5. Among the contents of the interview, what caught the attention of Korean track and field fans more was the ‘willingness to participate in the Asian Games in Hangzhou’.
Basim won two Asian Games in a row in Guangzhou (2m27) in 2010 and Incheon (2m35) in 2014, but missed the Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang in 2018 due to an ankle injury in the 2017 season.
After his ankle injury, Basim focused on major competitions such as the Olympics, World Championships and Diamond League by adjusting his ‘number of events’.
This year, the Budapest World Championships schedule is already out, with major competitions concentrated in August and September.
The men’s high jump preliminary round will be held on August 20 this year at 5:35 pm Korean time, and the final will be held on the 23rd at 2:55 am Korean time.
The Hangzhou Asian Games will start on September 23rd.
between the World Championships and the Asian Games,
Because of this, various officials predicted that Bashim would not participate in the Hangzhou Asian Games, but Bashim declared ‘participation in the Hangzhou Asian Games’ ahead of his first outdoor (outdoor game) appearance.
Woo Sang-hyeok, a ‘smile jumper’ who forms a ‘second round’ with Bashim, said, “I would have been disappointed if Bashim did not participate.” was welcomed to participate in the Asian Games.
Woo Sang-hyeok predicted participation in the World Championship, Diamond League Final Series, and Asian Games early on.
Woo Sang-hyeok, who won Korea’s first ever silver medal at the World Championships in Eugene last year, looks to a higher place in Budapest this year.
Woo Sang-hyeok, who won silver medals at the 2018 Jakarta and Palembang Games when Bashim was absent, is aiming to win the men’s high jump gold medal at this year’s Asian Games in Hangzhou, 21 years after Lee Jin-taek (winner at Bangkok in 1998 and Busan in 2002).
Even in 2018, when he was blocked by a 2m30 wall, Woo Sang-hyuk regretted Bashim’s absence from the Asian Games, saying, “It would have been better if Bashim had played.”
Having been certified as ‘Bashim’s rival’ by running a personal best of 2m36, now I enjoy the confrontation with Bashim more. 바카라사이트
The World Athletics Federation reviewed last season as “2022 men’s high jump stars Woo Sang-hyeok and Bashim”.
At the 2022 Outdoor World Championships, which track and field athletes considered most important (July 19), Basim surpassed 2m37 and defeated 2m35 Woo Sang-hyeok, but there was also a game where Woo Sang-hyeok surpassed the bar.
Woo Sang-hyeok’s ‘Bashim’s Home’ on May 14th
In addition, on August 11th, in the Monaco Diamond League, he played a ‘jump off’ with Bashim, an overtime match, and climbed to second place.
At the Monaco event, Woo Sang-hyeok and Bashim’s official record was the same at 2m30, but Bashim won in the jump off.
Woo Sang-hyeok said, “I wouldn’t have come this far without Basim,” he said.
Woo Sang-hyeok will wear the armband of the ‘defending champion’ at the Doha Diamond League on May 5 and will have his first confrontation with Bashim in 2023.