Double silver for Bahrain

Manama, Mar. 13(BNA): Bahrain extended their impressive run at the Fifth GCC Women’s Games, being held in Doha. The Bahraini bowling pair of Noora Sultan and Layla Janahi coasted to a convincing second-place finish in the women's doubles event on the second day of the bowling competition at Qatar Bowling Centre. The table tennis team also grabbed the team silver medal through Kaltham Elyasi and Maryam Khamis and Maryam Al A’ali after a 1-3 defeat to champions Qatar in the gold-medal tie. Just 24 hours after winning the singles gold medal, Noora was again in outstanding form as she combined forces with Layla to clinch the second event of the bowling championship, scoring 1,757 total. Oman’s Shakila Al Asri and Aisha Al Shibani (1,797) captured the gold medal, while the UAE tandem of Hind Al Hammadi and Khulood Akram (1,671) rounded off the podium. The result boosted Bahrain’s overall medal tally to 16 medals, including 6 gold, 6 silver and 4 bronze. Today is the third day of bowling when all participants will compete in pairs for the team contest podium. Bahrain is now on course to retain the overall bowling crown, having won the previous edition title in Muscat two years ago. Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Deputy General Secretary and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) board member and Women’s Sport Committee chairwoman Shaikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, who is heading the Bahrain delegation, congratulated the Bahrain bowling team right after the competition. Elsewhere, Bahrain went down 11-24 to the UAE at Aspire Dome to settle for the handball championship bronze medal. Bahrain, who were also behind 3-11 at half-time, headed into this decider needing a victory to move on top of the UAE in the standings. Qatar, who ended their campaign with an all-win record in this four-nation double round robin tournament, were crowned champions, while Oman ended at the bottom with an all-loss record. In the basketball championship, Bahrain look to regain their winning ways after a narrow 56-58 extra-time defeat to title holders Qatar, which was their first loss in the tournament. Bahrain kick-started their title haunt beating previous edition runners-up the UAE 65-39. Bahrain have stepped up their preparations for their third match tomorrow against the UAE, their first match in the second leg of this four-team round robin battle.