DOHA, 1 December 2006 — Prince Nawaf ibn Faisal arrived from Riyadh yesterday on the eve of the 15th Asian Games opening ceremonies to further boost the morale of the Saudi Arabian delegation in the quadrennial multi-event competition.
General Presidency of Youth Welfare Deputy-president Prince Nawaf is the Kingdom’s head of delegation with Saudi Athletics Federation President Prince Nawaf ibn Mohammed as his deputy.
On Wednesday, the Saudi athletes and officials attended their country’s flag-raising ceremony at the Games Village where the rest of the delegation members are still to check in. As of Wednesday five out of the 17 teams have arrived here, according to Saudi Arabian National Olympic Committee Technical Affairs Director and Administrator Mohmmad Al-Johar. “The rest would be here in a few days. The delay is probably because some of the sports the players entered do not start now, so they continue to train at their training camps and work on their skills,” Al-Johar said.
Although soccer is a national passion Saudi Arabia decided against sending a football team perhaps because they wanted to save the squad for the Gulf Cup to be held in the UAE in January in a bid to regain the title the Green Hawks ceded to Qatar last year. Not to worry, the Kingdom will be looking to their strong athletics squad to win medals from the Games where the competition goes full blast starting tomorrow.
In the Busan Games four years ago, Saudi athletics team won five gold medals and one silver with distance runner Mashed Al-Otaibi pulling off a golden double with victories in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters.
Al-Otaibi, however, was ruled out for this Asiad after suffering an injury last month.
Despite his absence, the Saudi athletics chief Prince Nawaf is brimming with confidence. “ We want to repeat what we did in Busan, or even surpass it. Don’t be surprised if we do it. Athletics will be our main focus,” he said.
The team to Doha had been finalized after the Al-Nokhba Championship in the Eastern Province. Promising new faces are joining the likes of world-class athletes Hadi Souan and Hamdan Al-Bishi and Asian indoor long jump champion Mohammed Al-Kuwalidi.
While athletics is being seen to deliver medals Saudi Arabia could spring surprises in weightlifting and swimming, which have scored successes in the Gulf and Arab levels, as well as equestrian.
Saudi swimming sensation Ahmed Al-Kudmani, a sprint specialist, captains a squad that has had training camps in Europe.
Veteran campaigners Prince Faisal Al-Shallan, Khalid Al-Eid and Ramzi Al-Duhami will lead the equestrian team.
