Bahrain capture Esports, cycling medals

TDT | Manama   

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s women’s Esports player Nouf Bakhit and men’s cyclist Ahmed Madan won silver and bronze medals, respectively, yesterday to further add to the Kingdom’s medal tally at the third GCC Games in Kuwait. Nouf clinched her silver in the Esports FIFA HD event, while Madan secured his bronze in the men’s individual time trial. The GCC Games’ official opening ceremony was held last night at Sheikh Jaber Al Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah International Tennis Complex.

In attendance wa s Bahrain Olympic Committee vice-president and the Kingdom’s delegation head at the multi-sport event, His High - ness Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, along with other high-ranking officials. In Esports, Nouf made it all the way to the final of the FIFA HD competition, but that is where she lost to her Saudi Arabian counterpart 0-1 in a tight contest. Earlier, she won her quarter-final matchup against her Kuwait rival 2-0, but then lost to her Saudi opponent in the semi-finals 0-2.

She then faced off with an Omani opponent for the right to earn a place in the gold medal match, and she won 2-0 to set up her chance for the title. Meanwhile, Madan’s medal yesterday was the second accolade won at the Games by the upand-coming professional, who is a member of Team Bahrain Victorious, which competes in global Union Cycliste Internationale events. He was also previously part of the men’s team that won bronze in their time trial contest.

Madan was one of 10 competitors going for the podium yesterday. He completed his ride in a time of 31 minutes 46.43 seconds, and was just over a minute behind gold-medallist Saied Alali of Kuwait, who won in 30:39.79. Yousif Mohamed Mirza of the UAE took the silver in 31:27.71. Madan’s countryman Ahmed Naser also had a chance to make it onto the podium, but he narrowly missed out.

He finished fourth in 31:57.64. Nouf ’s silver and Madan’s bronze brought Bahrain’s tally so far at the Games to 46—a mark adjusted by organisers on the official medal table after previously not counting the men’s team trial bronze in cycling.

The nationals thus have 17 gold medals, 17 silver and 12 bronze medals in second overall on the six-nation standings. Kuwait continue to lead while third through sixth, respectively, are Qatar, Oman, Saudi and the UAE.