Bahrain's swimmers and boxers contributed to the national delegation’s sensational medal haul last night in the fourth GCC Games in Doha, Qatar, bagging six medals between them – headlined by three gold.
The winnings of the kingdom’s two national teams were part of the 12 total medals won by Bahrain yesterday, which also featured six in athletics.
The kingdom’s swimmers came away with four medals at Hamad Aquatics Centre on the third day of competition in the Qatari capital.
Robert Bonsall and Mikhail Arkhangelskiy highlighted their performances as gold-medallists, while both were also part of the bronze-medal winning relay squad with teammates Ahmed Suhail and Sayed Ahmed Alawi.
Saud Ghali stepped onto the podium as a silver-medallist yesterday to complete the swimming team’s haul.
Bahrain’s boxers secured two medals last night in their competitions at Aspire Dome.
Aly Abdalla punched his way to gold in his division while compatriot Omar Budhahei bagged silver in another weight class.
The kingdom’s delegation have now clinched 23 medals after three days of action in Doha, including eight gold, 10 silver, and five bronze medals.
In swimming yesterday, Bonsall captured his first gold medal of this year’s GCC Games in the men’s 400 metres individual medley.
He completed the race in a time of four minutes 27.71 seconds, beating Emile Fouzai of Qatar, who took silver in 4:32.69, and Khaled Alotaibi of Kuwait, who clinched bronze in 4:37.56.
Bonsall and Arkhangelskiy then helped Bahrain claim bronze in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay, where they clocked a mark of 7:49.07 with Suhail and Alawi.
Hosts Qatar finished as champions in 7:29.22, while Kuwait were second in 7:45.38.
With those results, Bonsall brought his personal medal count to five in Doha.
He had previously also won silver in the men’s 800 metres freestyle to go along with a pair of bronze medals in the individual men’s 400m freestyle and in the men’s 400m freestyle relay.
Arkhangelskiy was crowned champion yesterday in the men’s 50m butterfly, taking his race in 23.80 seconds.
He finished narrowly ahead of silver-medallist Tameem Elhamayda of Qatar, who clocked in at 24.58s, while Mohammed Alotaibi of Saudi claimed bronze in 24.80s.
Arkhangelskiy came away with his fourth medal of the GCC Games.
He also won bronze in the men’s 50m freestyle and joined Bonsall on the men’s 400m freestyle relay team.
Elsewhere yesterday, Ghali won silver in the men’s 100m breaststroke, which he finished in 1:05.17.
Mohamed Mahmoud of Qatar triumphed in 1:03.10 while Emad Alsibyani of Saudi was the bronze-medallist in 1:05.37.
Ghali was on the podium for the second time in Doha, after also taking the runner-up spot in the men’s 200m individual medley.
Bahrain Aquatics president Abdulla Attiya was on hand during yesterday’s awarding ceremonies.
The swimming competitions at the Qatari capital are scheduled to conclude today with the final day of racing in the water.
In the boxing ring last night, Abdalla secured his men’s 75kg title with a 4-1 split decision triumph against Mohammed Dbichi of Qatar in their final.
Budhahei, on the other hand, lost via 1-4 split decision to Ziad Majrashi of Saudi Arabia in their gold medal bout.
In attendance during the awards presentations for Abdalla and Budhahei was Bahrain’s chef de mission in Doha and Bahrain Olympic Committee Arab and international relations head Maryam Mardana.
National team head coach John Conlan from Ireland and his assistant coach Mohammed Naseem were also present.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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