DOHA, Qatar, May 6- Olympics silver medallist, Eliud Kipchoge will clash with Uganda’s double Commonwealth Champion, Moses Kipsiro in the 3000m race of Samsung Diamond League opener in Doha later Friday.
Kipchoge, the 2003 World Champion in 5000 was forced to accept silver by Kipsiro at the Delhi Commonwealth Games last October but comes in as the favourite having a 13-1 record over the Ugandan.
Another Delhi gold medallist, Silas Kiplagat, the 2010 fastest metric miler (3:29.27), will take on World Junior champion, Caleb Ndiku and fast rising Nixon Chepseba in the men’s 1500m.
Ethiopia’s World Indoors fourth finisher, Mekonnen Gebremedhin will also feature in the event that has nine Kenyans.
Missing in the starting line-up is the Olympics champion over the distance, Asbel Kiprop, who opted to step down to the 800m race at the same meet.
Olympics silver winner, Alfred Yego, who won the world title in 2007, world record holder, David Rudisha’s rabbit, Sammy Tangui and Commonwealth bronze winner, Richard Kiplagat will also feature in the Doha two-lap race.
In total, nine Diamond Trophy winners from last year will face the starters’ gun in Doha meet that kick-starts the 14-meet elite track and field circuit.
The Samsung Diamond League replaced the discontinued six-event IAAF Golden League last season.