Qatar wins silver at Rio Olympics in men’s high jump

Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim claimed the country’s first ever Olympic medal, winning silver in the men’s high jump in Rio.

Canada’s Derek Drouin took gold, clearing a height of 2.38 metres to beat the competition, ahead of Doha-born Barhsim, with Bogdan Bondarenko of Ukraine landing the bronze.

Drouin, the reigning world champion and one of three bronze medallists in the event at London 2012, jumped with a clean slate throughout the competition, only falling short of the mark at 2.40 metres having already clinched the gold.

Bondarenko played a tactical game, passing on two of his first four jumps, but was ultimately unable to clear 2.38m to snatch the silver from Barshim.

Russia’s Ivan Ukhov was unable to defend his Olympic title after he and other Russian athletes were barred from the Games following revelations of state-backed doping in the country.