Uganda’s middle-distance runner Halimah Nakaayi is set to compete in the women’s 800 metres at the Doha Diamond League in Qatar on Friday.
The race forms part of the 31-year-old’s preparations for major international competitions, including the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The 2019 world champion will face a strong field led by Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma, who boasts a season-best time of 1:57.24, and Shafiqua Maloney, who has clocked 1:57.34 this season.
The pair are among the favourites for victory and are expected to set a fast pace from the start. Nakaayi heads into the race with a season-best mark of 2:07.08 and will be seeking a significant improvement against some of the world’s leading 800-metre runners.
Speaking ahead of the competition, Nakaayi said she is targeting a faster time and hopes to use the event to assess her progress as she builds towards future championships.
“The Doha Diamond League is a good platform for me to evaluate my fitness and gauge my progress. I am aiming to improve my season-best time as I continue preparations for the Commonwealth Games,” Nakaayi said.
Nakaayi has been training at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, in recent weeks as she builds momentum for a busy international season. Uganda Athletics general secretary Beatrice Ayikoru said the Doha meeting offers an important opportunity for Nakaayi to test herself against world-class opposition.
“Competing against some of the best athletes in the world is important for Halimah’s preparations. Such races help athletes improve their times, gain confidence and assess where they stand ahead of major championships,” Ayikoru said.
Nakaayi remains one of Uganda’s most accomplished middle-distance athletes. She made history in 2019 when she won gold in the women’s 800 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, becoming the first Ugandan woman to claim a world athletics title.
Her participation in this year’s Doha Diamond League comes as Uganda continues to strengthen its presence on the global athletics stage following recent successes by the country’s middle- and long-distance runners.
Athletics officials believe Nakaayi’s return to top-level competition could boost Uganda’s medal prospects at upcoming continental and international championships, including the 2026 Commonwealth Games.