Bahrain wins silver medals in GCC Games

Dammam, Oct.17 (BNA): Bahrain today added nine silver medals to their tally at the Second GCC Games, being held in Dammam, in Saudi Arabia. Salman Al Kindi, Yousef Al Shirawi and Hamad Ayyash took three medals each in three different weight competitions of the weightlifting championship at Prince Saudi bin Jalawi Gym in Al Raka, lifting Bahrain’s tally to 12 medals in total. Al Kindi gave the kingdom its first medal of the day by finishing second in the clean, jerk and total in the 69kg category. Al Shirawi and Hamad Ayyash then took three medals apiece in the 85kg and 94kg in the clean, jerk and total competitions to complete Bahrain’s medal haul of the day. Bahrain opened its medal-winning account through Abdulla Al Mejdami, who gave Bahrain three bronze medals in the clean, jerk and total in the 56kg event on Friday. Meanwhile, Bahrain were handed their first defeat in the handball championship. The nationals went down 31-33 to host nation Saudi Arabia at Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Sports City. Going up 17-15 at the break after a well-played first-half, Bahrain showed lack of concentration in the 30-minute second-half, in which Saudi Arabia put on a spirited show to turn the tables on their opponents and record their second straight victory. Bahrain’s coach Borut Macek was banking on team captain Jaffer Abdulqader, in addition to other handball talents Hasan Shehab, Mohamed Mirza, Jassim Al Salatna and outstanding goalkeeper Salah Abduljalil. In another match, Oman defeated the UAE 30-26 for their first win the championship. Bahrain will now take a day break before moving back into action tomorrow (Monday) when they play their third game against the UAE at 3.30pm. This championship is being played in a single round robin format and the team to finish with the highest number of points will be crowned champions on the concluding day on October 22. The volleyball title will be decided today when Bahrain face off with Oman at 3.15pm at the Youth Care Hall. Having won all their past three matches in this five-team event, Bahrain lead the competition with eight points, two ahead of second-placers Oman, who must win the today’s decider in straight sets to capture the trophy. Bahrain will be banking on its experienced talents, such as Jassim Al Nabhan, Mahmood Abdulwahed and Hasan Dahi. Ali Al Sairafi, Ali Ebrahim, playmakers Hussain Al Haiki and Mahmood Al Afya and libero Ayman Haroona are also other prominent members of the team looking to complete the competition on a high note.