Even without the most renowned athletes, such as medalists Pedro Pichardo, Patrícia Mamona and Auriol Dongmo, the leader of the Portuguese delegation aims for a podium in the World Indoor Athletics Championships that start today in Glasgow, Scotland, and names Isaac Nader as a candidate. “I don’t neglect the possibility of making another statement and eventually being able to reach the podium”, said Luís Pereira, the national team leader.
The Algarve athlete has the second best time among the 30 participants in the 1500 meters, but preferred to put an ice on the delegation leader’s ambitions. “My expectations are to improve on 10th place in Belgrade 2022. That’s why I’m going to the World Cups and, naturally, I want to go to the final, just like last time. The 1500 meter level is so difficult that you can be on the podium, as in last. My expectations are always good, but with some caution, because the level of 1500 at the moment requires it”, said the Benfica midfielder, who enters action today without Olympic pressure, as he is already qualified for Paris 2024.
In January, Isaac Nader took 76 seconds off the Portuguese record held for almost 25 years by his former coach Rui Silva, when he ran in 03.34.23 minutes in Ostrava. In Glasgow, he will have the Ethiopian Samuel Tefera, two-time defending champion, and the North American Hobbs Kessler, as great opponents and candidates for triumph in the 1500m, orphans of the Norwegian Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
Jessica Incude, in the shot put, and Tiago Luís Pereira, in the triple jump, can also surprise. And even if the delegation does not win any medal, the federative director understands that this “cannot be considered frustration”, remembering the current “level” of international athletics.
Honoring Portugal’s participation in the World Indoor Athletics Championships, which take place between today and Sunday, is the mission of the 17 national athletes (see list below). “The Portuguese Athletics Federation goes to these World Cups always with the expectation of sporting excellence from its athletes. The objective is always this. We are sure that this is what they work for every day, to overcome themselves, especially on these big stages”, the national team leader told Lusa, facing the absence of the three medal winners with positivity: “Recover and prepare in the best way possible for the big summer events, such as the European Outdoor Championships and the Olympic Games.”
One of the Portuguese athletes in the best shape is João Coelho, who is looking for the national record in the 400 meters and 4×400 meters: “I have the capacity to achieve the national indoor track record and it was important to do so.” With the 10th best time this year in a group of 25 athletes, which includes another Portuguese, Omar Elkhatib, the national record holder hopes to overcome “great opponents” and qualify for the final.
