DOHA: Paris Olympics champion Marileidy Paulino soared ahead of her competitors to clinch a dominant 400m victory at the Doha Diamond League, while Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga took the win over two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra on Friday.

A late challenge in the 3,000m steeplechase tested two-time Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali, but the Moroccan ultimately prevailed.

The Dominican Republic’s Paulino, a two-time 400m Olympic medallist, shot to the front and kept her lead to finish in 48.91 seconds, leaving second-placed Natalia Bukowiecka trailing by more than a second.

Tharanga, 23, was equally dominant as he threw 88.68m in his fourth attempt, leaving Anderson Peters more than two metres behind to take win. Chopra, competing for the first time this year after being sidelined with multiple injuries, threw 85.69m to finish fourth.

Italy’s Matteo Sioli took the high jump gold with an impressive effort of 2.29m.

El Bakkali was in his rhythm as he led the men’s 3000m steeplechase into the final lap, but had to dig deep when Samuel Firewu threatened to catch up with him. The 30-year-old collapsed after crossing the finish line.

Fantaye Belayneh made her move in the final lap of the women’s 5,000m only to suffer a fall, as her Ethiopian compatriot Medina Eisa took the win.

Ethiopians also dominated the women’s 1500m race, as Birke Haylom eased to victory ahead of compatriots Saron Berhe and Haregeweyni Kalayu.

World 110m hurdles champion Cordell Tinch eased to victory as Asier Martinez lost his momentum in the second half of the race, while Emma Zapletalova broke Slov­akia’s national record to win the women’s 400m hurdles in 52.30 seconds.

In the women’s 800m, American Addison Wiley pulled ahead in the home stretch and fought off a late challenge from Paris Olympics silver medallist Tsige Duguma to win in a minute and 57.98 seconds.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2026