Bahrain eye repeat success at Islamic Games

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain officially begins its campaign at the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games today, as the kingdom’s athletes take the field in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The national delegation includes 182 members, with 102 athletes competing across a wide range of sports. Recognised as the third-largest multi-sport event after the Olympics and Asian Games, the Islamic Solidarity Games provide a prestigious platform for athletes to test themselves against the best in the Islamic world.

The Games bring together more than 5,000 athletes from 57 countries, celebrating both sporting excellence and cultural unity. Bahrain will compete in nearly 20 of the 23 disciplines, including athletics, Para athletics, volleyball, handball, judo, karate, esports, 3×3 basketball, camel racing, duathlon, shooting, jiu-jitsu, Muay, weightlifting, table tennis, wrestling, and Para powerlifting. With such a wide programme, Bahrain’s athletes have multiple opportunities to shine while representing the kingdom on a regional stage.

The official opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday evening at Al Janadriyah Racecourse, where all nations will take part in the traditional parade of athletes. The Games continue until November 21, giving competitors a chance to chase medals and experience the camaraderie and cultural exchange that define this multi-nation event.

The first group of Bahrain’s delegation arrived in Riyadh over the weekend, including the senior men’s volleyball team, who were the first athletes to begin preparations. The rest of the delegation is set to arrive in the coming days, ensuring all athletes are ready for their respective competitions. After landing, the volleyball team settled into the athletes’ village at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, the central hub for participants. Their campaign begins today against Iran at 4pm at the Boulevard Arena, which will host all volleyball matches. They will then face Saudi Arabia on Saturday, Türkiye on Monday, Chad on Tuesday, and Qatar on Wednesday during the round-robin stage. The top two teams will advance to the gold medal match while the third and fourth-placed squads will contest the bronze.

The 12-man volleyball roster includes: Mahmood Ali AlAfya, Hussain Mansour Abdullah, Mohammed Saleh Annan, Ali Ebrahim Khamis, Nasser Saleh Anan, Mahmood Abdulwahid Ahmed, Sayed Hashim Isa Ali, Mahmood Abdulhussein Salman, Mohammed Jassim Abdullah, Hassan Ali AlWarqaa, Abbas Mohammed AlKhabbaz, and Ayman Ahmed Haroona. They are supported by team manager Sayed Ali Haidar, assistant coaches Mishal Mohammed Al Turki and Yves Marcel, fitness trainer Mohammed Mansoor, and statistician Anis Al Shayeb. Head coach Arnaud Josserand leads the squad’s preparations.

With the volleyball squad ready and the Games now underway, Bahrain will be looking to build on its strong performance at the previous edition in 2022 in Konya, Türkiye. The delegation won 23 medals, including nine gold, seven silver, and seven bronze, finishing eighth overall. The kingdom’s athletes now aim to continue that momentum and make a mark across multiple disciplines in Riyadh.