Al Arabi’s junior team won the bet and rightfully claimed the throne of the junior indoor athletics championship, the second championship of the 2016-2017 athletics season, confirming the sport’s development at the historic club and the emergence of a new generation of rising talents. They outperformed the rest of the clubs by a comfortable points margin, with Al Arabi’s youngsters finishing the competition, held at Aspire Academy’s hall last Wednesday, with 94 points to take first place and the lead. Al Jaish finished runners-up with 84.5 points, Al Sadd came third with 69.5 points, and Al Gharafa fourth with 63 points. Al Wakrah finished fifth with 45 points, Al Khor sixth with 29 points, Al Ahli seventh with 18 points, Al Rayyan eighth with 17 points, Qatar SC ninth with 16 points, and Al Shamal finished tenth with 7 points.
The championship also featured a notable participation by athletes from the Girls’ Training Centre in the 60m races and relays
Notable attendance
The junior championship was attended by Abdulhakim Al Omari, Mai Al Mohammadi, Khalifa Abdulmalik, Executive Director, and Captain Talal Mansour, board members, and Yaqoub Abdullah, deputy chairman of the technical committee. A number of technical directors from the clubs were also present, along with a sizeable crowd who followed the junior challenge from the Aspire Dome.
Al Arabi settle the relay race
Al Arabi’s quartet won the exciting 4x200m final, confirming their strength in the sprints, while Al Gharafa’s quartet finished second and Al Sadd’s quartet came third.
Al Sadd’s giants excel
The shot put event saw a standout performance as Al Sadd’s giants, brothers Ahmed and Marzouq Faraj Marzouq, took first and second place, while Al Jaish’s champion Khaled Al Jufairi finished third.
Al Arabi joy
After the challenge concluded, Abdulhakim Al Omari, Talal Mansour and Khalifa Abdulmalik crowned the teams that finished in the top three places, with the head of Al Arabi’s athletics department receiving the first-place trophy, and the Al Jaish and Al Sadd coaches receiving the trophies for second and third place, amid great Al Arabi celebration at winning the prestigious junior title.
Khalifa Abdulmalik: Al Arabi deserve recognition
Khalifa Abdulmalik, board member and the federation’s Executive Director, congratulated Al Arabi’s family on winning the junior indoor title, praising the club management’s attention and support for the sport at the historic club, which has driven its technical breakthrough, saying: Al Arabi truly deserve recognition and praise. He noted that the “Dream” teams have become a fierce competitor in all championships, and wished everyone success in the rest of the season’s championships.
Mansour praises Al Arabi’s breakthrough
For his part, Captain Talal Mansour, board member and head of Al Sadd’s athletics department, congratulated Al Arabi on their golden achievement in the junior category, praising the major breakthrough the club has made across the different age groups, which has made Al Arabi a fierce competitor and a tough opponent in every championship, stressing that this success is the result of considerable effort by the board, the technical and administrative staff, and the talented athletes, hoping other clubs would follow Al Arabi’s example in dedication and effort, and wishing everyone success in the rest of the season’s championships.
The big clubs slip!
A surprising decline was seen among Al Rayyan, who finished eighth, Qatar SC ninth, Al Ahli seventh and Al Khor sixth, even though Al Khor had dominated the cross-country championships at the start of the season’s championships. There is still a chance to make up for the setback through the remaining championships of the season, to correct course and restore self-confidence.
