Xiamen: Five things to look out for

Marileidy Paulino had an unforgettable World Championships in Budapest, claiming her first individual world title and clocking a national record of 48.76 in the process. The Dominican 400m star has also enjoyed a solid Diamond League season so far with victories in Doha and Paris. She is yet to secure qualification for the final, however, and currently sits in third behind Poland's Natalia Kaczmarek and the Netherlands' Lieke Klaver. A win in Xiamen would be the perfect postscript to a wonderful World Championships, and put Paulino on the plane to Eugene. 

Ukrainian high jump star finally clinched the world outdoor title at the third attempt in Budapest, and she will be keen to finish her season in style by defending her Diamond League title in Eugene next month. Like Paulino, though, Mahuchikh still has some work to do before she can book her ticket. Since her victory on the opening day in Doha, the Ukrainian has slipped down the rankings and now sits in fourth behind compatriot Iryna Gerashchenko, Australia's Nicola Olyslagers and Serbia's Angelina Topic. A second win of the season in Xiamen would see her secure qualification and cement her status as the favourite for the Diamond Trophy. 

From Liu Xiang to Omar McLeod, the Chinese meetings have always been a special place for Diamond League hurdlers, and the 110m hurdles promises to deliver fireworks in Xiamen. In Grant Holloway, Hansle Parchment and Daniel Roberts, all three medallists from Budapest are on the startlists, with a further three World Championship finalists also in the block. Holloway is already well on course to reach the final and attack a third successive Diamond Trophy, but with Parchment and Roberts both needing points to qualify, there is still plenty at stake.

It was a World Championships to forget for some of the world's best male sprinters. Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs and reigning world champion Fred Kerley both failed to make the final, while 2019 world champion Christian Coleman missed out on the podium in Budapest. Traditionally, though, there is no better way to lick championship wounds than with success in the Diamond League, and all three men will be chomping at the bit to get back to winning ways in Xiamen. Kerley has already qualified, while Coleman and Jacobs both still need a big performance to put themselves in line for Eugene.  

It has been four years since China last hosted a Diamond League meeting, and Xiamen will be making its debut on the circuit on Saturday. All eyes will be on local discus star Bin Feng, then, with the former world champion leading the charge of the home athletes as the series returns to China. It won't be easy going for Bin, however, as she goes up against six-time Diamond League champion Sandra Perkovic and surprise world champion Laulauga Tausaga. For Tausaga, Xiamen will be a chance to prove her performance in Budapest was the start of something special. Currently tenth in the standings, a win would put her within reach of the final and a shot at her first ever Diamond League title.