Iraqi sprinter Falah Hassan wins 200m gold at Arab Championships

ISMAILIA, Egypt — Iraqi sprinter Falah Hassan Hadi won the 200 metres at the Arab Championships, setting two records in the process, the Iraqi Athletics Federation said. Meysam al-Hasani, the federation's media director, said Hadi completed the final in 20.62 seconds at Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, breaking the under-23 Arab record. Bahrain's Mohammed Haji finished second in 20.96 seconds, followed by Morocco's Walid al-Basiri in 20.98 seconds. The victory gave Hadi a second gold medal in the sprint events at the championship. Talib Faisal, president of the Iraqi Athletics Federation, said the result reflected the work of the federation's technical staff, including coach Adnan Muhsin. Faisal said Iraqi athletics continues to send athletes to international competitions despite financial difficulties and called for additional support for the country's sprinters.