DOHA, 10 December 2005 — Qatari athletes produced a commanding performance at the Third West Asian Games yesterday, winning five of the 10 gold medals at stake to assert their status as the region’s leading track and field nation.
The hosts leapt to the top of the medals table with 26 gold, 18 silver and 19 bronze medals at the end of the track and field events with Kuwait and Syria in second and third place with 24 and 21 gold medals respectively.
With Qatar also in contention for the gold in basketball and volleyball, the country can expect to emerge the overall champions for the first time at the event, giving them the perfect platform to launch their preparations for the prestigious 15th Asian Games next year.
Syria took three golds yesterday, including two in the women’s 200m and 4x100m relay, and Kuwait and Bahrain finished with one each to complete the athletics competitions.
Qatar launched yesterday’s gold blitz in the morning when Mubarak Shami overcame foggy conditions to win the half-marathon in which only three athletes took part.
Shami clocked 1hr 02min 21secs in a battle with compatriot Ahmed Jaber to win the gold. Jaber took the silver in 103.00, one of four won by Qatar in athletics yesterday, and Iraq’s Noori Jabir claimed the bronze more than 10 minutes behind the winner in 1:12.06.
“I was confident about winning the gold,” Shami said after his effort.
“The fog was heavy but I was not thinking about that.” Former junior world champion Mubarak Al-Noubi, who had to overcome several injury battles, was in a class of his own in the 400m hurdles, cruising to the gold medal in 50.37 seconds.
The Saudi Arabian duo of Bandar Shraheli and Mohammed Da’ak finished second and third respectively in 51.96 and 52.11. “I was using the West Asian Games to test myself and after this victory I will have to chalk out my plans carefully for next year,” said Al-Noubi.
Essa Rashid won an exciting 5000m battle with fellow Qatari Gamal Salem although there were only four participants in the race.
Rashid eventually prevailed in 13min.33.07secs, ahead of Salem, the 10,000m winner. Iran’s Omid Mehrabi finished third more than a minute behind the winner.
The hosts also on the 4x400m relay and the javelin in which M. Al-Khulaifi took the gold with a throw of 71.73 meters.
Syrian women were also in the spotlight with Mounira Al-Saleh easily claiming the 200m gold in a time of 23.89secs, ahead of compatriot Chfran Al-Mouhamad and Jordan’s Basma Al-Ehshoush who clocked 24.66 and 25.25 to finish second and third respectively.
Later Al-Saleh and Al-Mouhamad helped Syria to the 4x100m relay in 49.41 seconds ahead of Iran (50.97) ad Jordan (51.16).
