JEDDAH, 8 March 2007 — Saudis clinched gold medals in all weight classes to dominate the two-day Judo Open Championship at Saudi Airlines Club here recently. Along with judokas from Saudi clubs Al-Wehda, Al-Ittihad, Heraa, Al-Ansar, Al-Shabab, Al-Taie, Al-Qadisiya and Sadous entries from 11 countries comprised the 70-man field in the tournament.
Wehda emerged the winningest club with victories in four categories courtesy of Abdulrahman Al-Hazmi in –66kg, Mohammed Al-Rashidi in –73kg, Naif Maziyou in –81kg and Mohammed Al-Qurashi in +100kg. Wehda also had a bronze medal in their collection.
Turki Munir distinguished himself as the double gold medalist of the tournament by winning the –90kg and open weight categories for Taie, who also collected two bronze medals.
Yahya Al-Zahrani made his last tournament an event to remember when he captured the gold for Shabab in the +100kg class. Eissa Magrashi put Heraa in the win column by winning the –60kg category.
Al-Zahrani is to leave for France end of this month to pursue his studies and try to finish a master’s degree in International Relations on a government scholarship. He dedicated the victory to his father who was ill.
While in France, a European power in judo, he would train at a local club there to gain more experience in between studies or if his time permits.
“I got the scholarship because of my solo efforts and hard work, so I’d always give priorities to my education and studies, ” Al-Zahrani said.
But for sure he added, he would not hesitates if he had the opportunity to join a judo club there to get more experienced if it did not contradict with his studies.
Besides judo, Al-Zahrani said he enjoys horse riding and writing. Facility with languages had given him many opportunities. He knows English and learned French at King Saudi University in Riyadh. He worked with the French delegation as a translator during the visit in the Kingdom of French President Jacques Chirac in 2006. He entered training camp and attended international seminars in Aix En Province in France.
All this enriched his knowledge and experience, he said.
