JEDDAH, 18 April 2005 — As the race for medals winds down to the last few days, heavyweight Haider Dakhil Mohammad gave Iraq a sweep of the last gold medals to go on offer in weightlifting in the First Islamic Solidarity Games.
Mohammad was unassailable in the 105 kg. weight class bagging golds in the snatch, clean and jerk and total lift.
Teammate Ammar Yosr Hussain clinched silver medal in total lift and snatch as well as the bronze in clean and jerk to underline Iraq’s overall victory in the weightlifting competition with 9 golds, 9 silvers and 3 bronze medals.
Saudi Arabia ended up second with 8-7-2 tally which includes the silver won yesterday by Najim Abdulla Alradwi in the clean and jerk.
Azerbaijan were third with 2-2-4.
Jordan had a couple of bronzes to show - in total lift and clean and jerk by Awad Bahgat Alaboodi — at the end of the four-day contest.
Egypt, a distant second to Saudi Arabia in the medals tally, moved within a victory of taking the water polo gold with a comprehensive 8-4 triumph over Iran yesterday at the swimming pool of the General Presidency of Youth Welfare Sports Hall here.
The win was Egypt’s fourth straight and only an improbable defeat by second-ranked Kazakhstan, who crushed Kuwait 16-8 for a 3-1 win-loss record, in their match today can stop the Egyptians’ victory march.
Saudi Arabia beat Azerbaijan 10-6 and will be up against the Kazakhs today in the final positioning matches in the round-robin water polo event. Iran clash with Azerbaijan in the other match.
Omar Al-Rashidi scored all goals including the last-gasp winner in the Kingdom’s thrilling 5-4 quarterfinal victory over Turkey in goal ball.
With the game tied at 4-4, Al-Rashidi’s attempt found the net with a minute to play as the Saudis advanced to a semifinal showdown with Iran, 11-1 winners over Jordan.
The other semifinal matchup pits Algeria against Iraq who demolished Bahrain 11-1 and Syria 13-4 respectively in the other last eight contests. The Kingdom play their semifinal matches today in football, in a prestige-laden match with Syria at 5:50 p.m., and in handball against Egypt at 4 p.m.
It will be Iran against Morocco in the other football semifinal game at 9 p.m. Both matches will be playe at the Prince Abdllah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah.
In volleyball, Saudi Arabia won in straight set against Iran 3-0 in one of four quarterfinal matches. Algeria beat Pakistan 3-1, Azerbaijan downed Turkmenistan 3-0 and Egypt topped Morocco 3-0.
— Additional input by Muhammad Al-Sheikhi
