Our national team’s participation in athletics at the Asian Games in Incheon concluded with success and distinction, as our champions carried out their final task in the competitions, with champions Rashed Al Manai contesting the triple jump and Mohammed Ibrahim Qaida the javelin throw on the last day of the Games. Al Manai was not successful in his first three attempts, finishing in 13th place out of 20 Asian competitors who contested the top three places, with China’s Cao Shuo taking gold with a winning leap of
17.30 m, his compatriot Dong Bin finishing second with 16.95 m, while South Korea’s Kim finished third with 16.93 m. In turn, Qaida finished 13th in the javelin with 66.63 m out of 17 champions who contested the top spot, with China’s Zhao Qinggang taking gold with 89.15 m, Japan’s Jia Rihao finishing second with 84.42 m, and Uzbekistan’s Ivan recording 83.68 m.
Roll of honour
Our national team’s roll of honour included sprinter Femi Ogunode – 100m and 200m gold; runner Mohammed Al Garni – 5000m and 1500m gold; runner Abubaker Ali Kamal – 3000m steeplechase gold; world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim – high jump gold; Ahmed Deeb Al Moghanni – discus bronze; Muammar Essa Barshim – high jump bronze; and Jamal Hijran – high jump bronze.
