Bahrain’s newly crowned 1 500m world champion Rashid Ramzi began his quest for a golden double with an easy win in his 800m first-round heat at the World Athletics Championships in Montreal on Thursday.
The 26-year-old Moroccan-born champion was joined in the next round, among others, by defending champion Djabir Said Guerni of Algeria and Russia’s Olympic champion Yury Borzakiovskiy.
Ramzi coolly won his heat, with Olympic silver medallist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi of South Africa looking rusty as the 24-year-old, who set the fastest time this year at the same track last month, struggled to get the third automatic qualifying spot.
However, Ramzi — who moved to Bahrain in 2002 but still holds a Moroccan passport — admitted he felt the effects of his triumph in Wednesday’s 1 500m final.
”I was quite tired after the 1 500m final. The weather didn’t help, but I’m trying my best,” he said.
Mulaudzi, the Commonwealth Games champion, admitted he didn’t run the cleverest race.
”It was quite a slow race and I had a lot to do in the final 200m,” said the 2003 bronze medallist. ”Tomorrow is another day and I just have to stay composed and not get boxed in.”
Borzakovskiy and El Guerni had no such worries as, along with Kenya’s William Yiampoy, toyed with the rest of the field to secure the three spots.
El Guerni said he ran a perfect tactical race.
”It was not a tough race for me,” said the 28-year-old. ”I wanted to be ruthless and I managed it. The event is very open.”
Yiampoy, who was controversially not selected for the 2003 team despite being the world number one at the time, said he will be looking for an easier ride in the second round.
”It was tough and very tactical,” said the 31-year-old. ”The climate’s not the best. I prefer faster races, but I don’t always like to be the front-runner.”
Ramzi was joined in the next round by his two teammates, former Kenyans Youssef Saad Kamel, who used to be known as Gregory Koncellah, the son of two-time 800m world champion Billy, and Bilal Mansour Ali (John Yego) both of whom won their heats.
However, 2001 world champion Andre Bucher fared less well as the 28-year-old injury-plagued Swiss failed to progress. — Sapa-AFP