??The Fifth GCC Women’s Games got underway yesterday (Tuesday) with a high-spirited opening ceremony in Doha.
Fencing team member Maram Mohammed was the Bahrain flag barrier at the spectacular ceremony held at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex.
This 11-day event brings more than 890 athletes representing Bahrain, Oman, UAE and the host country, Qatar competing in 10 different sports championships.
They are basketball, handball, table tennis, volleyball, chess, athletics, archery, fencing, taekwondo and bowling.
Last night’s ceremony was held under the patronage of Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani.
Bahrain, who are taking part in all events except for the chess, will be looking to complete a hat-trick having won the 2013 and 2015 Games held in Bahrain and Oman respectively. Kuwait hosted the first edition Games in 2008, while the second was held in Abu Dhabi in 2011.
However, their dreams received a setback yesterday after a 11-25 defeat to hosts and defending champions Qatar in the handball championship at Aspire Dome. Bahrain play their second match today when they face Oman, who lost their opener to the UAE 11-23 earlier yesterday.
Other venues hosting this edition games are the Ladies Club in Aspire Zone, the Equestrian Federation, and Lusail Shooting Circuit, Qatar Sports Club, Qatar Bowling Center, and Qatar Chess Association.
The volleyball team will kick-start their campaign today (Wednesday) when they face highly-favoured the UAE at 4.30pm at Aspire Zone. The team completed their preparations under national coach Yasine Al Meel and his assistant Younes Al Haddar.
Fencing events also start today with the flores and epee group contests taking place at Aspire Zone from 10am onwards.
Elsewhere, the athletics and shooting teams arrived in Doha yesterday. Athletics competition are scheduled to take place from March 9 to 11, while the five-day shooting events will commence today.
Bahrain’s delegation, the No. 1 title contenders this year, is being headed by Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Deputy General Secretary and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) board member and Women’s Sport Committee chairwoman Shaikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa.
Shaikha Hayat visited the Bahrain teams’ training to follow their preparations and in an attempt to boost their confidence ahead of their respective competitions.