Emirates - Reported by Hisham Jaafar:
During the fifth day of the first Gulf Youth Games in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain's national teams added significantly to their medal tally, bringing the total to 28, including 9 gold, 8 silver, and 12 bronze medals.
Successful Start for Badminton
The badminton team kicked off their tournament journey with notable success, securing three bronze medals and a silver. Ibrahim Hassan clinched a bronze in the youth singles, Mahmoud Al-Nakas also took bronze in the same category, while the duo of Ibrahim Khalil and Fatima Al-Sayed won a bronze in mixed doubles. In the youth doubles, Nasser Al-Nakas and Ibrahim Khalil Hassan achieved a silver medal, marking a strong performance for the team.
Chess Achievement by Al-Binali
Marwan Al-Binali, representing the chess team, won his career’s first bronze medal in the individual blitz chess competition, surpassing his Emirati opponent, Sultan Zayed Al-Taher. Al-Binali aims to continue his success in upcoming matches to secure more medals.
Leadership and Support by Ali Janahi
Ali Abdulaziz Janahi, a member of the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, arrived in Dubai to lead the Bahrain delegation at the games. Upon his arrival, Mr. Janahi attended several events, supporting the teams and boosting their morale. He watched the sailing competitions in Abu Dhabi and the football team’s second-round match against the UAE, as well as the victorious volleyball match against Kuwait in Dubai, which ended 3-0 in favor of Bahrain.
Mr. Janahi also met with Noman Al-Hassan, Vice President of the Bahrain Marine Sports Federation, to discuss the teams' preparations. He congratulated the volleyball team on their win and encouraged them to focus on upcoming matches to maintain their winning streak and compete for the gold medal.
Bahrain’s Youth Volleyball Team Triumphs in Opening Match
The Bahrain national youth volleyball team commenced their campaign at the first Gulf Youth Games with a resounding victory over Kuwait, sweeping the match in three straight sets (25-17, 25-13, 25-15) at the Al-Nasr Club Hall in Dubai. The team's dominant performance earned them their first three points under the guidance of Tunisian coach Saber Abdel Wahed. The next match for Bahrain will see them face Qatar on Sunday, April 21, at 12:00 noon Bahrain time (1:00 PM UAE time).
The Bahraini squad displayed superior offensive skills, particularly from players Hussein Issa and Abbas Ihsan, along with strong serves and a solid defensive setup from Hassan Al-Warqa, which highlighted the technical disparity between the two teams.
Bahrain Teams Face Busy Day in Various Competitions
As the Gulf Games continue into their seventh day, Bahrain’s teams are active across multiple sports. The badminton team kicks off at 9:00 AM, Bahrain time, in the singles and mixed doubles at the Zayed Sports Complex in Fujairah, building on yesterday’s success of three bronze medals.
The sailing team concludes its competition at the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club with hopes of finishing in the top three after a continuous three-day event starting at 10:00 AM.
Following its initial win, the volleyball team looks to maintain its strong form against Qatar at the Al-Nasr Club hall in Dubai, aiming for a second consecutive victory to strengthen their title challenge.
The handball team, seeking redemption from their opening loss, will play against Kuwait at 1:00 PM, Bahrain time, at the Al Batha Club hall in Sharjah, hoping to revive their aspirations for a top finish.
Meanwhile, in chess, Bahrain competes in the second day of the Rapid Chess - Individual matches at the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club at 4:00 PM, Bahrain time. Representing Bahrain are Marwan Al-Binali in the under-18 boys' category, Maram Al-Moussawi in the under-18 girls' category, and Mahmoud Al-Moussawi in the under-14 category, each aiming to make a strong showing.
Bahrain Handball Team Faces Setback Against Saudi Arabia
In their opening match at the Al Batha Club hall in Sharjah, Bahrain's handball team suffered a defeat to Saudi Arabia, with a final score of 33-29. The team started strong, keeping pace in the first half and ending slightly behind at 16-17. However, the second half saw a noticeable dip in performance, with missed opportunities and errors allowing the Saudi team to extend their lead by nine goals. Despite a spirited comeback in the closing minutes to narrow the gap to four goals, Bahrain could not overcome the deficit.
Assistant coach Qasim Muhammad reflected on the match, noting the team's initial disarray and haste in offense contributed to the loss. Despite these challenges, he praised the players' determination to fight back and highlighted plans to address these issues in preparation for their next match against Kuwait. He also mentioned that participation in the current Gulf tournament is part of the team's build-up to the Asian Championship scheduled for September 2024 in Iran.
Volleyball Team Celebrates Opening Victory
Bahrain’s volleyball team began their Gulf Youth Games campaign with a victory over Kuwait, sweeping the match in three straight sets. Player Muhammad Redha attributed the win to thorough preparation and effective execution of strategies by the technical staff and players. He acknowledged the match's challenges but emphasized the team's focus on their upcoming game against Qatar to maintain their strong form.
Teammate Ahmed Al-Warqa shared his thoughts on the team's motivation following their initial success. He stressed the importance of continuing to win, given the tournament's format of collecting points through round-robin play to vie for the championship. Al-Warqa expressed confidence in the team's ability to secure another win against Kuwait and sustain their competitive edge in subsequent matches.
