Our national team’s champions won five medals in the second day’s competitions at the 15th Gulf Cooperation Council general athletics championship, currently hosted by the Saudi Athletics Federation and concluding Saturday at Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Sports City’s venues in Qatif, with 300 athletes representing the six Gulf national teams taking part. This raises Qatar’s tally to six medals, including two golds courtesy of Mohammed Qaida in the javelin throw and Rashed Al Manai in the triple jump. Our champions also won two silvers courtesy of Ahmed Mohammed Deeb Al Moghni in the discus throw and Jamal Abdel Nasser in the 400 m hurdles, plus two bronzes courtesy of Khalid Mohammed Deeb Al Moghni in the discus throw and Muadh Abdulrahman Balla in the 3000 m steeplechase. Our champion Rashed Al Manai won triple jump gold with 16.14 m, while the Al Moghni brothers shone in the discus throw, finishing second and third behind Kuwait’s Issa Mohammed Zankawi, who claimed gold with 62.35 m. Ahmed Mohammed Deeb Al Moghni took discus silver with 60.26 m, and his brother Khalid Mohammed Deeb Al Moghni took bronze with 54.64 m, while Saudi Arabia’s Osama Hassan Al Oqaili had to settle for fourth with 49.54 m.
Our young talented champion Muadh Abdulrahman Balla won 3000 m steeplechase bronze, covering the race in 9:22.90, while Bahrain’s Leonard Kibet took gold in 8:53.07 and Saudi Arabia’s Said Abbad took silver in 8:53.88. Our champion Jamal Abdel Nasser Abu Bakr won 400 m hurdles silver after finishing second in 51.90 s, while first place and gold went to Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Rizqallah Malihi in 51.81 s, and third-place bronze went to Saudi Arabia’s Haidar Al Jumaa in 52.80 s.
Today, in the championship’s concluding competitions, the race walk, hammer throw, 1500 m, high jump and 4×400 m relay will be held.
Rashed Al Manai, triple jump champion: happy with my new achievement
Our golden champion Rashed Al Manai expressed his great happiness at winning triple jump gold, noting that the competition was strong and that, with God’s grace and by showing determination, resolve and a love of gold, he managed to become triple jump champion. He said: “I dedicate this golden achievement to the federation family led by Major General Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad, and I also dedicate it to all lovers of athletics.”
Ahmed Al Moghni: silver falls short of my ambitions
The discus throw at the Gulf championship saw brothers Ahmed and Khalid Al Moghni shine, taking second and third place. Ahmed Mohammed Deeb Al Moghni said: “Thank God either way. I had hoped to snatch gold to satisfy my legitimate ambition, but I did not manage that and finished second. I hope to have more luck in upcoming championships and achieve gold, as I have the ambition and determination to fulfil my legitimate ambitions.”
