Bahrain’s Hasan Mahboob acknowledges the applause after his Asian Games 10,000m win - his first ever race on a track (© Getty Images)
When Bahrain’s Hasan Mahboob lined up for the start of the men’s 10,000m at the 15th Asian Games in Doha on Saturday (9), he was perhaps more excited about making his track debut than competing for medals against the continent’s top runners at the Khalifa Stadium.
“I have never competed on a track,” said the Kenyan-born runner after picking up Bahrain’s third track gold of the Games on a coldish, windy evening in Doha. “I knew that the other guys in the field were strong because they had won track races before. I was afraid. Nothing is bad about this result. Everything is good.”
Yet as impressive as Mahboob’s victory undoubtedly was, considering that among his opponents he was up against Qatar’s Asian recordholder Abdullah Ahmad Hassan (26:38.76 – Brussels, 2003) running in front of his home crowd, he was not the inexperienced racer we might have imagined.
Kirui's road pedigree
Born as Silas Kirui in Kipsabet, Kenya, the 24-year-old, who has been preparing in Bahraini colours this year, has a lot of experience competing over the roads under his previous name. Most notably he has European successes including 10km victories in Italy in Gualtieri (28:13 his personal best, April 2004) and Turin (29:10, December 2005), but his biggest win to date was when he won in the Czech Republic at the 2005 Prague Half Marathon in a new course record time of 61:07.
Click here for race report from Prague Half Marathon in 2005
“I cannot say that I am a very good road runner,” said Mahboob “but I have done alright.”
Therefore, last night when the apparently unknown Mahboob seemed strangely at ease as he gently moved forward at the bell and then launched a furious finishing kick with 200m to go, he really was just that, confident. Racing on a track was new to him, but the art of racing itself was not.
“I felt good throughout the race,” he said. “I was calm and confident when the others were getting tired.”
My future lies on the track
After his stunning debut track race and success in 27:58.88, Mahboob is now convinced that his future lies on the track. “I feel very good after today’s victory,” he said. “This is the only talent God has given to me and I want to improve my talent and win more medals.”
“I have never before been on a medal podium running for my country,” he enthused after a deserved victory. “The feeling is good. I look forward to doing well in the future.”
“My idol is my coach Amod Korir,” says Mahboob. “I look up to him and follow his advice strictly. He is the reason for my success today.”
Elshadai Negash for the IAAF
