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Warholm in confident swagger towards Tokyo worlds | The Express Tribune
CHORZóW:
Karsten Warholm rebounded from a two-month training camp in the form of his life at the Silesia Diamond League, a timely showing that comes just weeks ahead of the world championships in Tokyo.
The Norwegian stormed the 400m hurdles in Saturday’s meet in the Polish city of Chorzow in an astonishing 46.28 seconds.
It was the third fastest time ever run over the distance, topped only by Warholm’s own world record of 45.94sec and American Rai Benjamin’s 46.19sec.
Both of those times were set when the Norwegian won an iconic gold ahead of the American at the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Until Warholm broke the world record in that run, nobody had run the 400m hurdles faster than American Kevin Young in three decades.
Four years on, Young’s once unbeatable 46.78 is only the 24th-fastest time in history.
In the years since, Warholm, Benjamin and Brazilian Alison Dos Santos have proceeded to redefine the gruelling event.
The trio has pushed each other to ever greater heights, sharing out the global accolades between them.
Warholm now owns nine of the top 23 times faster than Young’s 1992 best. Benjamin, who succeded Warholm as Olympic champion at last year’s Paris Games, also has nine and 2022 world gold medallist Dos Santos five.
“I had great rhythm and speed throughout,” Warholm said of his race in Chorzow.
“The time of 46.28 was even better than I expected. I knew I could do it.
“I mean, I’m in that shape, but to get out there and actually do it. It’s just something that has to come.
“I’m very happy and proud that I was able to push those kind of times.”
Warholm chose to race both Diamond League meets in China before setting a new world best in the 300m hurdles on his home track in Oslo and then taking a break from competition.
“I still think that my race in the Oslo Diamond League, the 300m hurdles world record is my best race this year,” he said.
Training, Warholm added, had been based on building speed and consistency over the last 100 metres.
“Now I think we built the best version of myself,” he said in broadside to Benjamin and Dos Santos ahead of the Diamond League finals later this month in Zurich, swiftly followed by the Tokyo worlds.
“It’s all a part of the plan. And I think people should never count us out.
“I think we were very smart, me and my coach, and we always have plans, so I’m not as surprised by this time as everybody else.”
Warholm will travel from Zurich straight to Japan for a final training camp there.
“I feel like we have a really good plan now, but my target now is that I’ve trained a lot, so I’m really confident that we did the work, and now it’s just to build the shape towards Tokyo,” he said.
“I knew that I was very fast in the training camps that I did. It shows that I am on the right way.
“To me this was a very good start to the second half of my season. I think it is promising towards Tokyo.”
The Copa Libertadores trophy won by Flamengo on Saturday was damaged during the team’s title celebrations.
Flamengo beat Palmeiras 1-0 in the final in Lima, Peru, to become the first Brazilian club to lift the prestigious cup four times.
Flamengo players and staff had a victory parade on the streets of Rio de Janeiro on Sunday afternoon, with an estimated 500,000 people joining in the celebrations.
Players and staff took turns to lift the cup during the parade and images showed that the top part of the trophy, which consists of a figurine of a footballer ready to kick a ball, was wrapped in what appeared to be masking tape.
– Flamengo lift Copa Libertadores, but Brazil’s players look exhausted
The figurine had earlier been broken.
Flamengo will be hoping to wrap up the Brazilian league title on Wednesday when they take on Ceara in front of their own fans in Rio’s Maracana stadium.
They are five points clear of Palmeiras at the top of the standings with two games remaining.
Former England cricketer Moeen Ali has announced his return to the Pakistan Super League (PSL), saying he was excited to be part of the league’s “new era”.
After the 10th edition of the PSL earlier this year, the league is set for an expansion to eight teams, with the addition of two new franchises.
Meanwhile, Moeen, who has previously featured in the marquee league when he represented former champions Multan Sultans in the 2020 and 2021 editions, expressed his eagerness to rejoin the league.
Moeen stated that the PSL, since its advent in 2016, has “earned a reputation for top-level T20 cricket”, featuring close competition and talented players.
“I’m really excited to be joining HBL PSL in its New Era. The league has earned a reputation for top-level T20 cricket, with high-quality competition and world-class talent across every team,” Moeen wrote on Instagram.
The 38-year-old, who represented England in 68 Tests, 138 ODIs and 92 T20Is during his illustrious career, was also a part of the Three Lions squad that made its historic tour of Pakistan in 2022 to play a three-match Test series. Besides that, Moeen has made several visits to the country.
Reflecting on his previous experiences in Pakistan, Moeen said that he enjoyed playing in the country and specifically praised the enthusiastic crowd, which he said pushes players to give their best on the field.
“Playing in Pakistan is always incredible; quality of cricket is outstanding and the passion and intensity from the crowd push you to bring your best,” he continued.
“I’m looking forward to being part of it all and creating some great memories along the way. Ready for another special experience Insha’Allah!”
His announcement comes just days after former South African captain Faf du Plessis pulled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to play in the upcoming PSL season.
In a post on Instagram on November 29, the renowned cricketer said that he would not put his name in the IPL auction this year.
“It’s a big decision, and one that comes with a lot of gratitude when I look back,” he wrote in his post.
The receiver has been plagued by injuries, but Sunday night against the Broncos, he gave Washington something to talk about other than a seventh straight loss.
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