Monaco: The Diamond League Council announced that Olympic and world champion Mutaz Barshim of Qatar will compete in the Monaco Diamond League meeting on Friday. According to Qatar News Agency, the council stated that Barshim will headline the men's high jump competition alongside a number of prominent athletes in the event this season. It noted that Barshim's return to Monaco this season carries significant importance for the meeting, given the Qatari Olympic champion's abilities, which are expected to draw the attention of athletics and high jump fans. The council added that an athlete of Barshim's caliber would raise the level of competition at the meeting and enhance its prospects for success. The statement reviewed Barshim's main challengers based on this season's recorded performances, including Ukraine's Oleh Doroshchuk, the top-ranked high jumper this season with a mark of 2.33 meters, Britain's Kimani Jack with 2.31 meters, and Jamaica's Romaine Beckford, who cleared 2.30 meters. Barshim began the current season by winning the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships high jump title in China in May, clearing 2.24 meters, before improving his mark to 2.27 meters at the Doha Diamond League meeting. Barshim is aiming to improve his Diamond League performance before taking part in the remaining meetings as he competes for the high jump Diamond Trophy in the 2026 season. The Monaco meeting is the 10th event on this year's Diamond League calendar, which features 15 meetings and will conclude in the Belgian capital, Brussels, with a two-day competition on September 4-5.
