UAE finish second in Bahrain GCC Games

Dubai: The UAE finished second at the inaugural GCC games held in Manama, Bahrain (October 10-22), with a total of 31 medals. The haul includes five gold, 12 silver and 14 bronze medals.

117 athletes represented the UAE in the ten sports showcased over the weekend which included football, handball, basketball, volleyball, athletics, cycling, table tennis, swimming, bowling and an overall disabled athlete division.

Mohammed Abdullah Darwish led the charge for gold by claiming top spot on the podium in the men's Triple Jump with an outstanding 15.92 metres.

Mahmood Al Attar and Hussain Al Suwaidi struck gold in the men's single (six game score 1353) and men's masters (final score 439) bowling divisions respectively, and wrapping up the gold feast was Mubarak Al Besher who claimed double-gold in the men's breaststroke - 50 metre (29.80 seconds) and 100 metre (one minute 5.33 seconds) events.

Athletes chalked-up silver in basketball, cycling - men's individual and team time trial, athletics - discus, high jump and 4x100 relay, men's bowling - team and swimming - men's 50 metre and 200 metre butterfly, 200 metre individual medley, 4x100 freestyle relay and 4x100 medley relay.

Bronze was secured in athletics - men's 200 metre, javelin, hammer and 10,000 metre walk, cycling - men's individual and team road race, swimming - men's 50 metre freestyle, men's 100 metre butterfly, men's 200 metre breaststroke, men's 50 and 100 metre backstroke, 400 metre individual medley, 4x200 metre freestyle relay and football.

The GCC games welcomed over 1,500 athletes from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Through the games, officials and each respective National Olympic Committee aimed to provide a platform for Gulf athletes and National teams to strengthen their performance and focus on their disciplines as a lead-in to the 2011 Pan Arab and the 2012 Olympic Games.

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