Bahrain Ready for GCC Games Action

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain are gearing up for a major multi-sport campaign at the fourth GCC Games, which begin today in Doha, Qatar, with the kingdom set to compete in 15 of the 18 sports on the programme.

The regional event runs from May 11 to May 22 and brings together elite athletes from all six GCC nations across a wide range of disciplines, with close to 1,100 competitors expected to take part.

According to Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) officials, the kingdom will be represented in archery, athletics, 3x3 basketball, billiards, boxing, handball, fencing, karate, padel, shooting, snooker, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball. Bahrain were also due to compete in basketball, but that competition has been removed from the schedule by organisers.

Among the most high-profile preparations has been the men’s handball national team, training under Swedish head coach Robert Hedin at the Bahrain Handball Federation Arena in Um Al Hassam, as they look to maintain their strong record in the competition.

The GCC Games will be staged across 10 venues in Doha, including Aspire Dome, Qatar Sports Club, Khalifa International Tennis, Squash and Badminton Complex, Lusail Shooting Range, and Al Gharafa Sports Club, among others.

Bahrain arrive in Doha with a strong history in the Games. At the 2022 edition in Kuwait City, the kingdom collected an impressive 64 medals, including 20 gold, 23 silver and 21 bronze, finishing among the leading nations in the standings.

That followed 43 medals in the 2015 Games in Dammam, and 19 medals at the inaugural edition hosted in Bahrain in 2011, when the country topped the gold medal count with eight.