Bahrain Ends Islamic Solidarity Games with 34 Medals
Men’s handball gold headlines Bahrain’s final-day medal haul
The Kingdom wrapped up the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, closing the tournament with a historic gold in men’s handball and three medals in wrestling, bringing the Kingdom’s total to 16 gold, 11 silver, and 7 bronze — 34 medals. The final day showed the depth and versatility of Bahrain’s athletes, who delivered strong performances across both team and individual events.
The defining moment came on the handball court, where Bahrain faced hosts Saudi Arabia in a nail-biting final. The match started in favor of the home team, but Bahrain fought back through the sharp finishing of Hasan Alsamahiji, who scored six goals from seven attempts. Mohamed Mohamed and Mohamed Ahmed added critical strikes at key moments, while captain Husain Alsayyad contributed five goals to steady the team. With the score tied at 25–25 late in the second half, Jasim Khamis and Salman Alshowaikh delivered decisive goals that secured a 33–31 win, giving Bahrain one of its most memorable team medals of the Games.
The momentum from handball carried into wrestling, where Bahrain added two silvers and a bronze to its medal haul. Khidir Saipudinov advanced to the men’s freestyle 86kg final before narrowly losing to Azerbaijan’s Arsenii Dzhioev, taking silver. Shamil Sharipov reached the final in the 125kg division after edging Giorgi Meshvildishvili 7–6 in the semifinal, ultimately claiming silver as well. Magomedrasul Asluev secured bronze in the 74kg category with a 4–3 victory over Turkey’s Fazli Eryilmaz, giving Bahrain a strong finish in wrestling and adding to its growing medal count.
Bahrain’s campaign had already seen success across athletics, with ten golds coming from stars including Edidiong Odiong, Salwa Eid Naser, Nelly Korir, Winfred Yavi, and Rooba Alomari. Weightlifting contributed five more golds thanks to Ingrid Grueso and Gor Minasyan, while additional medals in judo, fencing, volleyball, table tennis, and e-sports showed the Kingdom’s depth and versatility across sports.
By the end of the Games, Bahrain ranked sixth overall, behind Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Across handball, athletics, and wrestling, Bahraini athletes produced standout performances, closing the Games with an impressive medal haul and a strong finish to their campaign in Riyadh.
Related Posts