BAHRAIN’S hopes of winning another medal in taekwondo events at the Fifth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, were dashed yesterday.
Bahrain’s third and final team member Walaa Al Doseri lost 6-29 to Vietnam’s Thi Anh Tuyet Tran in the under-57kg quarter-final bout.
Though the 20-year-old Bahraini bowed out of the tournament, she has ensured herself a bronze medal.
Walaa, who won the under-57kg gold at the Fifth GCC Women Sports Tournament, headed into yesterday’s bout as a strong medal contender. Earlier, Walaa had beaten Chimi Dolma of Bhutan 10-6 in the last-16 round.
However, Walaa could do little against a more matured and experienced Vietnamese opponent, who had better strength and stamina.
Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president and Bahrain chef de mission Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Bahrain Olympic Committee general secretary Abdulrahman Askar and other officials witnessed the taekwondo bouts yesterday.
Nine athletes are representing Bahrain in three disciplines – jiu-jitsu, taekwondo and wrestling – in the 12-day Games.
Wrestler Adam Batirov holds Bahrain’s final hopes of a third medal at the Games.
The 32-year-old will be seen in action on Monday at 4pm (Bahrain time) in the men’s freestyle-70 kg weight group.
Batirov took part in 2016 Rio Olympics in the FS 65kg category and lost in the round of 16 to Ikhtiyor Navruzov of Uzbekistan.
Bahrain currently have a gold and bronze won by Ali Munfaredi and Ahmed Shebeeb respectively on Monday.