Bahrain’s national athletics team star Oluwakemi Adekoya was given a warm welcome on return from Portland, in the US, after taking part at the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships.
Adekoya made Bahraini athletics history when she became the first athlete from the Gulf nation to win a world indoor championships title, winning the women’s 400m gold medal.
The Bahraini athlete faced stiff challenge from two Americans – Ashley Spencer and her teammate Quanera Hayes, who settled for the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) general secretary Abdulrahman Askar was leading high-ranking sports officials in the reception at Bahrain International Airport to welcome Adekoya.
Askar conveyed the congratulations of Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Work and Youth Affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Chairman, and BOC President to the athlete and his best wishes for her.
The BOC general secretary said this historic achievement was a result of the significant support by the kingdom’s leadership to sport in Bahrain and the continued backing of Shaikh Nasser and the Supreme Council first vice-chairman and Bahrain Athletics Association president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
On her part, Adekoya said she was pleased with her victory at such an international level, and promised to strive and give her best in future competitions to keep Bahrain on the world map.