Samaai faces strong field at Stockholm Diamond League

National long jump champion Ruswahl Samaai will step up his preparations for the Tokyo Olympic Games when he competes in his first World Athletics Diamond League meeting of the season in Stockholm, Sweden on Sunday.

Having displayed consistent form throughout the 2021 campaign after clearing eight metres in five of his six appearances this year, Samaai will need to be at his best against a field that includes some of the other medal contenders for the upcoming Tokyo showpiece.

The former World Championships bronze medallist will line up at 3pm alongside the likes of reigning world outdoor champion Tajay Gayle of Jamaica and world indoor champion Juan Miguel Echevarria of Cuba, who have both sailed beyond 8.20m this year.

Samaai is the only South African in the entry lists for the Stockholm meeting, the fifth of 12 legs in the Diamond League season.

“We wish him well tomorrow,” said James Moloi, the President of Athletics South Africa. “He has been working very hard through a tough season affected and dictated by Covid-19 worldwide.

“It is good that he will be lining up with the very athletes he is going to compete against in Tokyo. And at this point of preparations, it will allow him to gauge the level of readiness he is at against his Olympic opponents. We, therefore, wish him, his coach and support staff well.”