BAHRAIN’S Al Hala Club went down fighting 73-77 yesterday against Khorfakkan Women’s Sports Club from the UAE in the basketball competition of the eighth Arab Women Sports Tournament, currently being held in Sharjah, the UAE.
Hala had a strong start to the contest and led after three quarters. They were then up by double digits midway through the final period but the Emiratis closed the game strong to come away with the narrow four-point win.
The result was the third straight defeat for Hala in Sharjah after beginning their campaign with back-to-back setbacks against Iraq’s Ghaz Al Shamal and Tunisia’s Al Amal Sports Club-Al Watan Al Qibli.
Hala have rest days today and tomorrow but will be looking to bounce back in their remaining three assignments. They return to the hardwood against Shabab Fuheis Club from Jordan at 11am on Sunday before facing Al Fatat Sports Club from Kuwait at 1pm the following afternoon. They then complete their schedule against Sharjah Women’s Sports Club from the UAE, also at 1pm, on Wednesday. All times are Bahrain.
In their loss yesterday, Hala were up 16-12 at the end of the opening period and continued to lead 32-30 at the half. An evenly matched third quarter saw the Bahrainis head into the fourth up 50-48, and it appeared they were about to claim their first win of the tournament.
But Khorfakkan came alive in the last five minutes, surging ahead to stun Hala. Both teams had big scoring runs – with Hala stringing together 14 unanswered points for a 62-48 advantage early in the concluding frame when they built their biggest lead of the game at 71-55. But the Emiratis replied and used their own 14-0 run to get back to within 69-71, and they rode their momentum to the final buzzer.
Bayan Salman scored 23 points for Hala in their missed opportunity while backcourt mate Aya Kamali added 19 while dishing out eight assists. Both young guards fired in three three-pointers in the contest. Mariam Sameer Owais chipped in with 15 points, while Shereen Abdulrahman had eight and Fatima Bushihri six for Hala.
Lindsey Bolyam was the top scorer for Khorfakkan with a game-high 35 points and 15 rebounds, while Fatumato Fufana had a monster effort of 25 points and 27 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Bahrain’s shooting team from Riffa Club took part in official training yesterday ahead of the start of their medal bids in the 10-metre pistol competition.
Mooza Abdulrahim Ali, Badreya Ebrahim Alatawi, and Qamar Ali are flying the kingdom’s flag in this event.
The kingdom’s shooters will also be competing in the 10m rifle competition on Sunday, with Noof Khalil Aldoseri, Marwa Hamid Alamairi, Hanan Khaled Rahma, Safa Mohamed Aldoseri, and Fawzia Mohamed all set to take aim for gold.
The finals for both the pistol and rifle competitions will both take place Sunday.
Bahrain have so far won two medals in the eighth Arab Women Sports Tournament, with the kingdom’s fencers taking a silver in the teams’ epee competition and Ritej Haithem Araoud winning bronze in the individual foil competition. Bahrain’s fencing aces are representing Busaiteen Club.
Aside from basketball, shooting, and fencing, Bahrain are also competing in Sharjah in archery with Riffa and in taekwondo with Budaiya.
Hala, Riffa, Busaiteen, 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 topped the medal table in the previous edition of the Arab Women Sports Tournament held in 2024, when they captured an impressive 13 gold medals to headline a 23-medal hail.
Bahrain’s delegation in the UAE is 65-strong, including players, coaches, and administrators.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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