Abderrahman Samba of Qatar celebrates after the Men's 400m Hurdles of 2019 IAAF Diamond League in east China's Shanghai Municipality on May 18, 2019. Abderrahman Samba won the first place with 47.27 seconds. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)
SHANGHAI, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Qatar's rising star Abderrahman Samba opened his 2019 Diamond League season in style with a world leading time of 47.27 seconds to set the men's 400-meter hurdles meet record here in Shanghai on Saturday.
The 23-year-old, who won Diamond Prize with a unbeaten record last year, clocked 47.27s to smash the meet record of 48.63s set by Bershawn Jackson of the United States in 2017.
Rai Benjamin of United States finished second in 47.80s, followed by Irishman Thomas Barr in 49.41.
"It is a great feeling for the first Diamond League race of the season. It was a great race as Rai and I pushed each other to the line," said Samba, who sizzled 47.51 to win the gold medal at the Asian Championships last month.
"The main goal of the season for me is the World Championships in Doha. This year is a big year and I feel better this year," he added.
Samba's winning mark in Shanghai is nearly half a second shy of his continental record of 46.98s set last year in Paris, which also stands as the Diamond League record.
