His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs representative, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa received in his office yesterday the Bahrain athletics and handball players who took part in the recent 8th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The athletes came home with 26 medals, including 12 gold, seven silver and the same number of bronze.
Bahrain emerged the best performers among Arab countries and finished 11th in the overall medals standings, which was unprececented in the history of the country’s participation in the regional competition.
Shaikh Nasser praised the athletes for their efforts to make the country proud.
“Such achievements by our athletes in the Asian Games are a solid result of the constant support and backing extended by HM the King to the sports movement in Bahrain and the sportspeople,” said Shaikh Nasser.
“HM the King is striving to provide the ideal environment to the Bahraini sportspeople so they would flourish and achieve great successes. Bahrain is small in its size, but its people’s efforts make it a big country and is now competing with other Asian countries for podium places.”
Shaikh Nasser said that HM the King is following all the national teams and celebrates their achievements.
“HM the King is always keen to honour Bahrain’s champions in a way that suits their sacrifices towards their homeland,” said Shaikh Nasser.
“The great achievements made by Bahrain’s champions in the Asian Games are a continuation of the accomplishments achieved in the past.”
Supreme Council for Youth and Sports assistant secretary general and BOC secretary general Abdulrahman Sadiq Askar expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to Shaikh Nasser for welcoming Bahrain’s delegation as well as supporting the Kingdom’s sportspeople.
Askar said HM the King and Shaikh Nasser’s valuable support has inspired the athletes to excel in their respective sports.