Africa-Press – Senegal. The Senegalese athlete, specialist in the 400 meters, Cheikh Tidiane Diouf, requests the support and accompaniment of the authorities of his country to be able to ensure his qualification for the next world athletics championships scheduled for 19 to August 27 in Budapest (Hungary).
One month before the start of the 19th of the World Athletics Championships, the Senegalese Cheikh Tidiane Diouf has not yet reached the minimum requirements to qualify, for lack of « adequate support », according to the 28-year-old athlete. already qualified for the Francophonie Games scheduled in the Democratic Republic of Congo (July 28 – August 6).
« The world championships are coming soon. I haven’t qualified yet. It is not my fault. I gave everything and I will continue to do everything to participate. But it could have been easier with a scholarship to prepare abroad,” he said in an interview with APS.
« If things continue as they are, the rest of my career may be difficult. We are at the top level and that requires a lot of support. I don’t have an Olympic scholarship or social assistance. I have nothing at all, » he said.
« I have all the potential to qualify for the worlds and reach the final. I don’t understand why nothing is being done to help me. But I would take it as a source of motivation and I would do everything to qualify, even without support, » he argued.
He also hopes to achieve the minimum (45″s) to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
A positive 2023 balance sheet, despite everything
Author of a brilliant season this year, the native of Touly (Thiès) beat his personal best thanks to a time of 45″48 achieved at the meeting of La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, on July 2nd.
The resident of the AS Douanes club (Senegal) participated and won five other meetings this year. He ran at three meetings in France: the international meeting of Annecy, June 11 (45″57), the national meeting of Troyes, July 1 ( 45″76 ) and the international meeting of Sotteville, July 7 (45″94).
Cheikh Tidiane Diouf who started athletics in 2018 also participated in the VAC Gouden 1500 meeting in Belgium on June 16 (46″19) and at the Folksam Grand Prix Göteborg in Sweden on June 17 with a time of 46″ 03.
« The results of this year are positive. I started the 400m with a time of 51s and currently I manage to do 45s. My goal is to beat my personal best in every competition. And in Switzerland I got there, ”supported Cheikh Tidiane Diouf, welcoming the support of his agent. “He helps me with tickets and accommodations. He takes care of everything so that I can go compete, » he said.
Pour plus d’informations et d’analyses sur la Senegal, suivez Africa-Press
