Double joy for Bahrain athletics
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Bahrain athletics had twice the reason to celebrate yesterday, winning gold medals in two major competitions currently being held outside the Kingdom.
In the third West Asian Athletics Championships in Doha, Bontu Rebitu completed a superb long-distance double after winning the women’s 5,000 metres gold medal last night.
Meanwhile, in the fifth Asian U18 Athletics Championships, being held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Bahraini youngster Layla Kamal clinched the gold medal in the girls’ 100m.
At the Qatari capital, Bontu claimed her second title of the competition after also striking gold previously in the women’s 10,000m.
She won her race yesterday at Suheim bin Hamad Stadium in a dominant time of 16 minutes 01.80 seconds.
Trailing far behind was the silver-medallist from Lebanon in 19:46.31, while in third was an athlete from the UAE in 20:26.40.
Bontu’s second gold medal brought Bahrain’s tally at the West Asian event to nine medals in all after three days of competition, including seven gold, one silver and one bronze.
The other gold medals have been won by Abdelrahman Mahmoud in the men’s shot put, Dawit Fikadu in the men’s 10,000m, Marta Hirpato Yota in the women’s 800m, Fatima Mubarak Issa in the women’s long jump, and Noora Salem Jasim in the women’s shot put.
Tigest Mekonen claimed the silver medal in the women’s 800m, while Abdulghani Mohammed Hameed won a bronze in the men’s 10,000m.
Action in the championship continues today with the final day’s programme. Bahrain are one of 12 countries taking part in Doha.
The others are Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Palestine, Iraq, Oman, Yemen, Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen and hosts Qatar. In the girls’ 100m final at the Uzbek capital, Layla completed her sprint in 11.77 seconds.
Abinaya Rajarajan of India won the silver in 11.82s, while Li Tsz To of Hong Kong took the bronze in 11.84s.
It was the first medal for the Bahraini team at the competition.
Earlier in the day yesterday, Layla booked her place in the medal round after finishing second in the first of two semi-final races.
She clocked a time of 12.29s, finishing behind Jian Rujing of China, who won in 12.19s.
Also in Tashkent, fellow-Bahraini Abbas Muhammed could not get past the semi-final round in the boys’ 100m.
Abbas finished fifth in his semi-final heat in 11.15s, and was thus unable to advance.
Action at the meeting continues today, with the closing ceremony scheduled for tomorrow night.
Bahrain’s athletes in Tashkent are among 524 boys and girls, representing 40 countries, taking part in the event.
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