Iran’s Sajjad Moradi is a defending champion in 800m and silver medalist in 1500m at Guangzhou. He went to participate in the Asian Games as a junior 12 years ago at Busan 2002, where he finished eleventh in 1500m. After a fortnight he clinched a silver in 800 and bronze in 1500m in the continental junior championships at Bangkok. He had a forgettable outing in Doha four years later as he could not finish his race in 1500m final. However learning from his experience Moradi posted a personal best 3:37.09 to gain a silver medal behind Saudi Arabia’s Mohamed Othman Shahween (3:36.49) in 2010. Two days later at Guangzhou he had emerged as a ‘champion’ in 800m with a noteworthy 1:45.45.
It was in Incheon, Moradi clocked his best time in the two lap race – 1:45.45 – with a bronze medal in Asian championships. The Iranian once again finished outside the podium in last year’s Asian championships at Pune – 4th in 1500m and 8th in 800m. Qatar’s Abdulrahman Musaeb Bala emerged triumphant in Pune and is leading the Incheon start-lists for 800m with a superior 1:44.03 timed at Rieti where he recorded his personal best 1:43.93 last year. Also in Incheon will be Bahrain’s Youssef Saad Kamel (1:42.79 PB) and Saudi runner Abdulaziz (1:44.30) will make things difficult for Moradi. Two other Bahraini athletes – Benson Seurei (3:34.24 SB) and Rashid Ramzi (3:29.14 PB) – are ready to engage in a three-cornered contest with Moradi in the metric mile!
