Mahmoud Ali keeps medal hopes alive

Mahmoud Ali Murad was the only UAE bodybuilder to stay in contention for a medal in bodybuilding competition at the 14th Asian Games in Busan yesterday when he reached the finals of the 80 kg category.

The finals will be held today at the Busan Citezens Hall.

The other UAE bodybuilders who were eliminated from the first round were: Ahmed Hussain, Saeed Al Mansouri, Walid Aman, Abdul Razaq Jaffar and Ali Mohammed Abdullah.

The UAE team manager Haydar Hasan Abdullah said that the competition was tough and the bodybuilders from the other countries were in a very good shape.

"Our boys did what they could achieve, but it was a difficult tournament where the Asian countries took part with their best bodybuilders," he said. "The tough competition needs good preparation and experience which ours lack."

Haydar said that Mahmoud Murad will do his best on Saturday and he is optimistic that he could win a medal.

Mohammed Shehab, the UAE top snooker player, who was the last hope for the snooker team to nail a medal in Busan lost in the second round of the singles event last night.

Shehab lost to Pakistan player Mohammed Saleh 3-0. Shehab won his first round match in the morning when he beat James Ortega of Philippines 3-0.

Mohammed Al Joker, the UAE No. 2, who also played in the first round lost to NG Ann Seng of Malaysia 3-0. The snooker team leaves Busan today to return to the UAE.