Bahrain athletes begin on high note

Manama, Mar. 13. (BNA) -- Bahrain athletics team today started their medal quest at the Fourth GCC Women’s Games, being held in Muscat, on a high note. The nationals put on a splendid show on the inaugural day of athletics events and notched seven medals (one gold, five silver and one bronze) amidst fierce challenge from other athletes from Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and host nation Oman. The results boosted the Kingdom of Bahrain’s overall medal table at the end of the sixth day of the Games. A variety of athletics events took place on day one and involved athletes from all over the GCC, including 10,000m final, 100m hurdles, 100m, 400m, long jump and shot put. Noora Jassim started Bahrain’s medal haul of the day in the shot put event, in which she registered 14.78 metres to claim the competition’s gold medal. Compatriot Basma Mohammed (11.52) came second, while Qatari Sara Al Mannai (10.92) was third. Late on, Bahrain took its second medal of the day through Kaladish, who notched the 10,000m silver in 33 minutes and 59.99 seconds, while UAE’s Alya Mohammed (32:58.12) raced to victory. Salha Mohammed then gave Bahrain the 100m hurdles silver in 16.12 seconds. She finished behind gold medalist Buthayna Al Yaqoobi (15.03) of Oman and ahead of Qatar’s Mubaraka Al Mannai (16.42), who got the bronze. In the 400m run, Raja Lamadi clinched another silver for Bahrain clocking 57.79 seconds. UAE’s Elham Bethlehem (56.92) won the gold medal, while Omani Hana Al Qassmi (1:03.82) settled for the bronze. Maryam Al Ansari won Bahrain’s last medal of the athletics day by finishing second in the long jump event, in which she jumped to score 5.35 metres. Oman’s Buthayna Al Yaqoobi (5.36) emerged winner, while Sabrine Yousef (5.09) of Bahrain rounded off the podium by coming third. Bahrain’s winning athletes received their awards at the medals presentation ceremony and were congratulated by Bahrain Olympic Committee board member, women’s sport committee chairwoman and Bahrain delegation head Shaikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa. Athletics action continues today with 10 competitions in total – 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, triple jump, high jump, discus throw, 800m, shot put, 3,000m, 200m and 100mx4. Elsewhere, Bahrain volleyball team gold medal dream suffered a major blow after a 1-3 (26-24, 12-25, 16-25, 18-25) defeat to defending champions the UAE yesterday at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex gym in Boshar. It was the first defeat for Bahrain in two matches, having won their opener against Qatar in straight sets. The UAE lead the competition with four points from two wins and are on course to retain the title they won in Manama two years ago. Bahrain, coached by national tactican Abduljalil Al Aradi, had high hopes on their trio spikers Hessa Al Isa, Hajer Al Ansari and Najla Turab, who guided the team to their first win over Qatar. There was another heartbreak defeat for Bahrain, this time in the basketball tournament, where they went down 26-48 to title champions Qatarto settle for the bronze medal in the concluding game of this round robin championship. It was the second defeat for Bahrain in four matches. Bahrain registered two successive wins over Kuwait and Oman earlier in the tournament, shrugging off their defeat to the UAE in the opening match. Fadel Melad, the head coach for Bahrain, introduced his full strength squad for this crucial game. He started the game with Hessa Al Jaber, Hessa Ebrahim, Noora Al Shaikh, Seema Ali and Fatma Mohammed. Meanwhile, Bahrain’s taekwondo and bowling teams kicked off their preparations in Muscat after their arrival on yesterday.