His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, today at the Sakhir Palace, received HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the King’s Representative for Charity Work and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), President of Bahrain Olympic Committee, and HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, SCYS First Deputy Chairman, President of Bahrain Athletics Association, marking his winning the Ironman Middle East Championship recently held in Bahrain, and his qualification to the annual Ironman World Championship to be held in next October in Hawaii, USA. 

HM the King also received Al-Najma handball team, winner of the 2017 Asian Club League Handball Championship, lately held in Hyderabad, India, and their qualification to the world cup competition.

After reciting few versus of the Holy Quran, HH Shaik Nasser bin Hamad gave a speech in which expressed delight in the royal honour on his qualification to the Ironman World Championship, which is his personnel historical achievement.

HH Shaik Nasser bin Hamad took pride in honour received from HM the King, leader of the construction and progress march witnessed by Bahrain. He paid tribute to the royal support to all athletes who have brought remarkable achievements and promoted Bahrain’s international standing. 

He pointed out the royal keenness on honouring the outstanding athletes, who worked hard to highlight the development seen by the Bahraini sport movement under the era of HM the king, which is a great motive to continue exerting efforts to represent the homeland in various sport forums. 

He attributed his success in the Ironman Middle East Championship and his qualification to the Hawaii championship to HM the King’s support, vowing to continue the hard work to bring more achievements to Bahrain. 

Al-Najma Club Chairman Hassan Al-Qattan, in his speech, said winning the Asian handball championship couldn’t have been accomplished without the royal support, which is a source of pride and motive to all players and training and coaching crews to attain more accomplishments. He pledged to continue underpinning Bahrain’s sport standing regionally and internationally. 

He also noted the successful policies of HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and initiatives of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, which have boosted the Bahraini sport and taken it to higher levels. 

He praised HH Shaikh Nasser’s efforts that contributed to harvesting many honourable sport results at the clubs and national team level. He also lauded HH Shaikh Khalid’s support to the sport in various fields. 

Then, HM the King was presented with the Ironman Middle East gold medal by HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad. 

HM the King was also presented with a commemorative gift by Al-Najma Chairman. 

HM the King, in his keynote speech, paid tribute to all sport achievements made, chiefly Al-Najma’s at the continental level and their qualification to represent Bahrain at the world level. 

HM the king congratulated the achievers who have carried off various medals. He also congratulated their highnesses Shaik Nasser and Shaikh Khalid on leading the sport movement. 

Many achievements have been grasped at the Olympic and world levels, determination and effort should be continued to carry off further accomplishments, HM the King added. He took pride in the performance of the national football squad in the 23rd Arabian Gulf Cup, saying little more luck needed to clinch the title. 

HM the King said all sport associations officials, players and training and coaching crews deserve commendation and much thanks for their great efforts, wishing them more successes to earn.