Preview: Tebogo, Fraser Pryce, Barshim, Chopra Headline Star-Studded Doha Diamond League
The third leg of the 2025 Diamond League circuit lands in Doha on Friday, May 16, following exciting season openers in Xiamen and Shanghai. This year’s Jetour Doha Diamond League promises a packed evening of world-class athletics at Qatar Sports Club, featuring Olympic champions, world record holders, and emerging stars. With $5,000 bonuses on offer for new meeting records, the stakes are high and the fields are stacked. From sprint showdowns and high-flying pole vaults to heavyweight discus battles and tactical middle-distance clashes, here’s what to watch for in each event.
Men’s 200m:
Letsile Tebogo, Olympic 200m champion and African record holder (19.46), headlines a stacked field in his Doha debut. He'll face NCAA champion Courtney Lindsey, who beat Tebogo in Nairobi, and other elite sprinters like Kyree King, Aaron Brown, Joseph Fahnbulleh, and Filippo Tortu. Tebogo has run sub-20 nine times in 2024 and also owns the fastest 300m ever (30.69).
Women’s 100m:
Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce launches her 2025 campaign in Doha, where she’s a two-time winner. The five-time Diamond League champ (PB 10.60) takes on Tia and Tina Clayton, Natasha Morrison, and Europe’s fastest including Mujinga Kambundji, Patrizia Van der Weken, and Amy Hunt. Fraser Pryce opened with a wind-aided 10.94 in April.
Men’s Discus:
Australia’s Matthew Denny, now No. 2 all-time (74.78m), takes on world champs Daniel Stahl and Kristjan Ceh. Stahl (71.46m PB) won Olympic and world titles; Ceh is a two-time Euro champion and defending Doha champ. Expect fireworks as all three have topped 70m this year.
Men’s High Jump:
Local hero Mutaz Barshim opens his season in front of home fans after taking Olympic bronze in Paris. He’ll duel with Olympic champ Hamish Kerr (2.36m) and top contenders like Shelby McEwen and world indoor champ Sangyeok Woo. Rising Italian teen Matteo Sioli makes his Diamond League debut.
Men’s Javelin:
Neeraj Chopra, India’s Olympic and world champ, returns to Doha aiming to reclaim Diamond League dominance. He’ll battle 2022 champ Anderson Peters, Olympic silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch, and Euro champ Julian Weber. Chopra owns a PB of 89.94m and is coached by legend Jan Železny.
Women’s Pole Vault:
Olympic champ Katie Moon returns after a dominant indoor season. She'll face Alysha Newman, Molly Caudery, Sandi Morris, and Tina Sutej in a deep field. Moon, who won in Doha last year, cleared 4.80m+ in every indoor meet this season.
Women’s Steeplechase:
Olympic gold medallist Winfred Yavi leads a loaded field featuring Peruth Chemutai, Faith Cherotich, and world champ Norah Jeruto. Yavi ran 8:44.39 in Rome—just shy of the world record. She holds three of the top 10 times in history.
Men’s 110m Hurdles:
Daniel Roberts (12.93 PB) and Rasheed Broadbell return after Olympic podium finishes. Europeans Lorenzo Simonelli, Enrique Llopis, and Asler Martinez aim to challenge, along with Jamal Britt and Yaqoub Al Youha.
Women’s 400m:
Salwa Eid Naser returns to her golden city, where she ran 48.14 in 2019. She’ll face Euro champ Natalia Bukowiecka, rising Brit Amber Anning, Dutch star Lieke Klaver, and Sada Williams. Naser has clocked 48.67 this season.
Women’s Triple Jump:
Olympic champ Thea Lafond (15.01m) leads a strong field featuring Shanieka Ricketts, Ivana Spanovic, and Tugba Danismas. Lafond aims to return to form after an early-season setback in Nanjing.
Men’s 800m:
Bryce Hoppel (1:41.67 PB) opens his outdoor season against Wycliffe Kinyamal, Slimane Moula, and Andreas Kramer. Look out for rising stars Aaron Cheminingwa and Tsepiso Maselela.
Men’s 5000m:
Dominic Lobalu, fresh off Euro gold, takes on Ethiopia’s Getnet Wale, Samuel Tefera, and Addisu Yihune in a high-quality distance clash.
Women’s 1500m:
Kenya’s Nelly Chepchirchir and Susan Ejore go head-to-head with a deep African and European contingent, including Jemma Reekie, Agathe Guillemot, and Veronika Lizakowska.
With an electric lineup and major championship implications looming, Doha promises a thrilling night of athletics on the road to Tokyo.
