BAHRAIN Disabled Sports Federation (BDSF) President Shaikh Mohammed bin Duaij Al Khalifa welcomed the Bahrain wheelchair basketball team back to the kingdom after finishing third at the eighth GCC Wheelchair Basketball Championship in Abu Dhabi.
The tournament, which saw Kuwait clinch first place for an eighth time, was held under the patronage of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council president Shaikh Nehyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Shaikh Mohamed congratulated the Bahraini team for their hard work and the fighting spirit displayed during the tournament, adding that their accomplishment has prompted the BDSF board to work harder to give the team more support for future events.
He also thanked the team members for clinching a podium finish during their final game against UAE which they won 52-47. He said Bahain’s victory was admirable bacause the UAE side had undergone a much more advanced training camp and were playing on home grounds.
The tournament, which took place on New York University Campus in Saadeyat, saw the participation of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait.
Eleven players represented Bahrain at the tournament. They were Faisal Al Asfoor, Mohammed Nasser, Mohamed Jaffar, Nabeel Hamad Al Dossery, Mohammed Al Kaabi, Hassan Al Shuwaikh, Hassan Karimi, Jaffar Al Radhi, Ahmed Abdulla, Ahmed Mushaimaa and Hassan Abdulla.
The delegation was headed by Ali Nabhan. Ibrahim Zubari was the administrative officer while the team was coached by Bahraini Hamad Mohammed.
The team took part in a training camp in Turkey from December 11to 19 prior to the tournament.