JEDDAH, 30 April 2007 — The Saudi national team returned yesterday from Doha, Qatar where they clinched second place in the 2nd GCC Military Athletics Championship, winning a total of 11 medals (6 golds, 3 silvers and 2 bronzes).
The event attracted 76 athletes from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, UAE and host Qatar. Saudi Arabia won the 4X100-meter relay to cap a performance that included victories by Mohammed Al-Khuwailidi in the long jump, Ismael Al-Sibyani in 400 meters, Yahya Habeeb in 100 meters, Hashim Al-Aqabi in high jump and Idrees Hawasawi in 400m hurdles.
The Kingdom relay team posted a winning time of 39.34 seconds. But their 4X400 squad had to settle for the silver medal in 3:44.1. The two other silver medals came from Ahmed Marzoug in the long jump and Bandar Sharahili in the 400m hurdles.
Al-Khuwailidi leapt a distance of 8.23 meters for the long jump gold, while Aqabi cleared the bar in 2.19 meters to score the Kingdom’s other victory in the jumping events.
Al-Sibyani, 19, won his event in record time of 47.35 seconds supplanting the old mark set by Kuwaiti Fawzi Al-Shamamari.
Al-Sibyani’s performance drew praise from Brigadier Dahlan Al-Hamad, president of the Military Sports Federation in Qatar. “He indeed would bring benefit to Saudi athletics,” said Brigadier Al-Hamad.
Habeeb became the meet’s fastest man when he sprinted to the line in 10.28 seconds setting a new record in the process.
Hawasawi struck for the Kingdom’s sixth gold when he ruled the high hurdles race in 51.23 seconds. Mohammed Al-Fardan in the 200 meters and Mubarak Atta in the 110m hurdles race were the bronze medalists of the Saudi team. “I consider it a good beginning back from injury,” Atta said of his clocking of 14.44 seconds. “My best record is 13.72. However I am glad and proud of my achievement today,” Atta said.
