BAHRAIN’S delegation kicked off their medal bids yesterday in the eighth Arab Women Sports Tournament in Sharjah, the UAE, with fencer Ritej Haithem Araoud winning a bronze medal in the individual foil competition.
Fifteen-year-old Ritej, representing Busaiteen Club, claimed her place on the podium after making it to her event’s semi-finals. There, she lost 8-15 to Oman’s Israa Saif Al Siyabi, competing for Salalah Club.
Prior to her contest in the last four, Ritej had impressive victories in the preceding stages. In the last 16, she defeated Emirati Shamma Almheiri 15-4, before riding her momentum to a 15-8 quarter-final triumph against Zainab Jaffar Moosa, also from the UAE. Both her Emirati opponents were representing Sharjah Women’s Sports Club.
Bahrain’s 17-year-old Sumaya Khaled Albuainain was also entered in the individual foil competition yesterday. She made it to the round of eight but lost 11-15 to Omani Salma Said Al Dighaishi, also competing for Salalah.
Action in fencing continues today in Sharjah with the teams’ events, where the Busaiteen fencers will be looking to build on their strong start.
Meanwhile, the kingdom’s archery team comprising Suha Khalafalla Shaikh, Maryam Isa Anbar, and Sara Abdulrahman Marzooq booked their berth yesterday in the bronze medal match of the teams’ contest.
The archers, representing Riffa Club, faced the UAE’s Sharjah Women’s Sports Club in the semi-final round yesterday but lost 0-6, which dropped them to the match for third place. It will be held today against Kuwait’s archery representatives from Kuwait Shooting Sport Club.
Elsewhere yesterday, Bahrain’s Al Hala Club lost their opening game in the basketball tournament, falling to Iraq’s Ghaz Al Shamal Club 55-68.
The game was close for three quarters until the Iraqis pulled away in the final period.
Ghaz Al Shamal led 22-18 at the end of the first and then they extended their advantage to 37-29 at the half. Hala fought back in the third and got to within 49-55 heading into the final frame, but Ghaz Al Shamal held the Bahrainis to just six points in the entire quarter en route to claiming their victory.
Bayan Salman was Hala’s top scorer with 19 points in the loss, while Aya Kamali chipped in with 13 points.
Hala, coached by Bahraini tactician Murtadha Mohammed, will be looking to bounce back today when they play their second game against Al Amal Sports Club–Al Watan Al Qibli from Tunisia. It is scheduled for an 11am tip-off, Bahrain time.
Bahrain are also competing in the biennial meeting in shooting and taekwondo. Riffa’s shooters are set to fly the kingdom’s flag in the event, starting tomorrow, while Budaiya’s jins will be competing in taekwondo, which will begin their contests on Tuesday next week.
Busaiteen, Riffa, Hala, and Budaiya are amongst 63 clubs representing 16 countries across nine sports in this year’s Arab Women Sports Tournament, which is organised by Sharjah Women’s Sports under the patronage of wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Sharjah Family and Community Council chairperson Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi.
The kingdom’s sportswomen are looking to repeat their success from the previous edition of the Arab Women Sports Tournament held in 2024, when they topped the medal table with an impressive 13 gold medals to headline a 23-medal hail.
Bahrain’s delegation is 65-strong, including players, coaches, and administrators.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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