Outstanding achievements for Bahrain sport in 2017

Sports in Bahrain has witnessed achievements and successes in 2017 in different international sports competition.

These outstanding remarks were result of the continued support of the country’s leadership to sports in Bahrain, thanks to representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee President Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Supreme Council first vice-chairman, West Asian Athletics Federation president and Bahrain Athletics Association president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The attention and support from His Majesty the King to the athletes is a milestone for Bahraini sports to move towards the world at the regional, continental and international levels, resulting in winning various gold, silver and bronze medals.

In 2017, the Bahrain champions won 396 medals in total, including 137 gold, 110 silver and 149 bronze at various competitions, a clear indication of the growing sports movement thanks to support from the Bahrain Olympic Committee to national associations to ensure best possible outcomes.

The result of Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who qualified for the 2018 World Triathlon Championship was one of the greatest sporting achievements for the Kingdom of Bahrain last year. His Highness was able to achieve a remarkable sporting achievement when he was ranked first in the amateur and military level at the East Championship Middle East for the Iron Man, which was held in the Kingdom of Bahrain last December. His Highness is an exemplary model of devotion and determination. 

Athletics was again the highly-accomplished Bahraini sports association, with its athletics playing a remarkable role through many international, continental and regional achievements to form an honorable finish for the Kingdom under the leadership of Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Moreover, handball, table tennis, bowling and many other sports have strengthened their reputation for Bahraini sport on the international level.

Athletics .. International successes

Bahrain's athletics team continued its distinguished career in 2017 after imposing a strong presence on the world arena with 50 medals, including 27 gold, 16 silver and 7 bronze. The most notable achievement of the Games was the victory achieved by Rose Chelimo, who clincheda gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in London, whileSalwa Eid Nasser took the women's 400m silver medal.
The athletics team secured the bronze medal at the World Cross Country Championship in Uganda in March.

The athletics team played a strong role at the Islamic Solidarity Games, hosted by Azerbaijan in May, after winning 19 medals, including 11 golds, 5 silver and 3 bronze medals, to secure first place in athletics events.

The women's team won 13 different medals in the fifth GCC women's sport tournament, which was hosted by Doha in March, after a distinguished show, reflecting the high standard of the Bahraini athletics.

Weightlifting and body building .. twisted muscles

The national weightlifting and bodybuilding teams put on a strong show winning 57 colorful medals, including 27 gold, 8 silver and 22 bronze, as the domestic federation maintained its outstanding reputationat various international competitions.

The most distinguished results were achieved by Abdul Wahid Al Asfor, who secured a gold medal, while Mohammed Sabah picked a gold at the World Masters Championships in Romania to November, in addition to Jassim Marhoonwinning the bronze medal at the World Bodybuilding Championships held in Spain to November.

Weightlifting team also came out with big outcome of medals at the West Asian Championship, hosted by Jordan to October, after it won 24 gold, 8 silver and 18 bronze, while Arafat Yaqoub made another remarkable feat after winning a gold medal, while compatriots Abbas Makki and Nasrallah Hashem took the bronze each at the Asian Championship in Mongolia in October.

People with disabilities .. Determination

On their part, athletes with disabilities showed determination and overcame difficulties to achieve a series of remarkable achievements that reflected the competitiveness of people with disabilities. These champions achieved 33 medals, including 15 gold, 9 silver and 9 bronze.

The result of Fatima Safar, the gold medalist at the World Athletics Championships in London, was the most remarkable achievement in this category. She also shined at the 5th China International Athletics Championships in May when she grabbed a gold medal inthe f53 shot put category, while her teammate Ruba Al Omari added a second gold in the F55 shot put.

The team also won eight medals at the 9th Fazza International Athletics Championships held in the UAE in March and won 6 medals at the Winter Olympics of the Special Olympics held in Austria in March.

Basketball..Women’s brilliance

Bahrain settled for second place finish in Basketball at the fifth Gulf Women's Sports Tournament held in Doha, Qatar, in March, when Bahrain women out on a brave show to secure the competition’s silver medal. This was a clear indication of the support offered by the Bahrain Basketball Federation president Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa to women's basketball.
Handball.. A historical bronze

Women's handball notched a bronze medal at the third women's tournament held in Doha in March, where the team advanced to the podium for the first time in women's handball history. The great interest and the growing development of the team with the support of the federation, headed by Ali Isa Esaqi.

Billiards and Snooker.. Distinguished

Snooker and Billiardstook eight colored medals, including 4 silver and 4 bronze medals. The snooker team won the bronze medal at the Arab Championship hosted by the UAE in October, while in the Arab Championship hosted by Jordan in February, the billiards squadstormed to win seven medals, including 4 silver and 3 bronze.

Bowling.. Asian victory

The bowling team clinched nine colorful medals, including two golds, four silver and three bronze. The youth team made the most impressive success at the 19th Asian Youth Championship held in the Philippines in October, when Ahmed Al Awadhi won silver medals with Omar Al Mudhaki, Ali Osman and Osama Abdulrahman, in addition to Al Awadi winning the singles bronze and silver medal in the overall ranking.

Triathlon.. Continued successes

The national triathlon teams continued their brilliance winninga silver medal at the Sprint Triathlon Tournament held in Jordan in October. Samira Al Bitar succeeded in achieving the gold medal, while Omar Abdullah Hamza managed a silver.

Golf.. Brilliance

The Golf team took won seven medals – including two golds, four silver and a bronze. The golfers starred at the 21st GCC men's and women's third championship held in Bahrain in February when they won two golds and silver, while the junior team made yet another glamor at the Gulf Championship in Saudi Arabia in April when theyachievingone gold, 3 silver and a bronze.

Cycling..Dominance

The national cycling teams achieved 16 medals in total, including 2 golf, 5 silver and 9 bronze. The Asian Championship, which was in Bahrain in February, saw the host nation win a gold, a silver and bronze medal. The Gulf Championship held in January in the UAE saw the biggest harvest for Bahrain, winning two silver medals and seven bronze, while the nationals took the overall titles at the 18th Senior and 19th GCC Junior Championships, winning one gold, two silver and one bronze.

Self Defence .. Big harvest

Self-defense sports were dominant at Bahrain's record of 37 medals, including 20 gold, 10 silver and 7 bronze.
The Asian Indoor Games in Turkmenistan in September witnessed the most notable achievement thanks to Ali Manfaradi, who bagged a gold medal, while Ahmed Shabibtook the bronze medal in Jujitsu events.

The Jujitsu players won a large number of medals at international championships, winning three medals at the Abu Dhabi World Championships in April. They won two gold medals at the Grand Slam in London in March and took 10 medals at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam In January.

Fajer AlBinAli also won a gold medal at the International Taekwondo Federation President Cup, In karate, young Maher Al Singartook a silver medal at the Thailand International Karate Championship in April.

Shooting .. Golden shots

The shooting team won 20 colored medals, including 9 gold, 6 silver and 5 bronze. The gold medal was won by the team of Hassan Majid and Mariam Hassani in the mixed competition at the Islamic Solidarity Games held in Azerbaijan.
At the regional level, Bahrain's shooters starred in the 12th Arab championship held in Kuwait in January when they won 8 medals, including 4 gold medals.

Maritime Sports .. Sail to victory

The marine sports federation achievedfive medals in total, including gold, silver and 3 bronze medals, all of which were won at the GCC Sailing Championships hosted by Kuwait in March. The competition witnessed an emergence of outstanding sailor Abdul Rahim Abdullah Salman, who won the gold medal in the Laser Standard class.

Air Sports ..Above the Sky

Air sports have won 10 different medals, including 3 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals, all of which were achieved in the first Arab Championship and the first GCC Championship to mark a wonderful start to their career for the recently-founded federation.

Swimming ..Respected outcome

Bahrain had a respected finish in swimming in 2017 with 48 medals, including 10 golds, 21 silver medals and 17 bronze medals, all of which were achieved at the 14th GCC Short Track Championship held in Saudi Arabia in March, when the team hit hard and took a large harvest of medals to prove abilitiesamong the participating Gulf teams.

Mixed Martial Arts .. Respected outcome

Mixed martial arts team took podiums with 18 medals, including 6 golds, 4 silver and 8 bronze. Wrestler Adam Batirov won the gold medal at the indoor games in Turkmenistan in September. He also won the bronze medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games hosted by Azerbaijan in May. The sport also won several medals in open amateur tournaments. (Review .. Ali Monfredi won a medal)

Volleyball ..Arab kings

The volleyball team continued its confident career at the Arab and GCC competitions winning the gold and silver medals, respectively. The youth team succeeded in winning the Arab Championship organized by Jordan in July with all the competence and ability to restore the Arab title, while the women secured podium by winning second place at the fifth GCC women's tournament in Doha in March.

Cricket ..Lonely Bronze

The cricket team had only won one bronze medal at the Asian World Cup cricket tournament in Thailand in April.

Fencing .. Shines

A total of 62 medals, including 10 gold medals, 8 silver and 44 bronze medals, were won in various overseas competitions. The Gulf Championship, organized by Bahrain in February, saw the hosts win 10 gold, 6 silver and 44 bronze medals.

Table Tennis .. Continued successes

Table tennis sport gave Bahrain additional 9 medals in 2017, including gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze. The nationals starred at the first West Asian Championship Jordan in February, when Rashid Sanad took the singles gold medal.

At the fifth Gulf Women's Sport Tournament held in Qatar in March, the Bahraini girls were crowned with twosilver and two bronze medals.