A record 30 Bahraini athletes have so far been given the go-ahead for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games late this year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Twenty-six Bahrainis have qualified for the Olympics and will be taking part in four disciplines while four others have received wild cards.
Representative of His Majesty for Charity Work and Youth Affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa will be heading the Bahrain delegation to the Olympics.
This was announced at a press conference addressed by BOC general secretary Abdulrahman Askar and chef de mission Yousif Abdulqader.
Bahrain’s line-up features some of the best middle and long-distance runners and it includes 12 men and 14 women. Leading Bahrain’s team will be Oluwakemi Adekoya, who won the women’s 400m gold at this year’s IAAF World Indoor Championship in Portland, US.
The nation will also pin hopes on the likes of rising athlete Salwa Naser, winner of the 2016 Asian Indoor Championship in Doha. She will be joined by other prominent athletes like Benson Seurei, Abbas Abubaker and Ruth Jebet.
Adam Batirov, winner of this year’s Asian Wrestling Championship in Thailand, is another Bahraini medal hopeful.
The 31-year-old veteran wrestler hopes to continue his impressive run, but this time in a higher category - under-70kg.
Bahrain have been awarded three wild cards – Mahmood Haji (shooting), Al Zain Tareq and Farhan Saleh (swimming).
“We started our qualifying programme back in August 2015,” said chef de mission Abdulqader.
“With the qualifying deadline being July 14, we are hopeful of having more athletes in our team,” added Abdulqader.
BOC general secretary Askar expressed pride in having a record number of athletes participating for the first time at this level.
The BOC general secretary, along with other representatives of the committee, will fly to Doha later this month to present the final list of Bahrain’s official delegation to Rio.
Bahrain team:
Athletics:
Men: Andrew Fisher (100m); Kemarley Brown (100m); Abbas Abu Baker (400m); Abraham Rotich (800m); Al Siddique Mikho (1,500m); Benson Seuri (1,500m); John Koech (3,000m steeplechase); Albert Rob (5,000m); Oiki Eilo (5,000m); Al Hasan Al Abbasi (10,000m); Shumi Dechasa (Marathon) and Alemu Bekele (Marathon).
Women: Salwa Eid (200m); Kemi Adekoya (400m hurdles); Ruth Jebet (3,000m steeplechase); Mimi Belete (1,500m); Tigist Belay (1,500m); Tajest Mikonin (3,000m steeplechase); Mimi Belete (5,000m); Rose Chelimo (Marathon); Eunice Kirwa (Marathon); Shitaye Habregeioges (Marathon); Eunice Chumba (Marathon); Ester Tesfai (Marathon); Merima Mohammed (Marathon); Lishan Gemgchu (Marathon).
Wild cards:
Swimming men: Farhan Saleh. Women: Al Zain Tareq
Wrestling Men: Adam Batirov.
Shooting Men: Mahmood Haji
&uuid=(email))