Golden Yavi Does It Again

Bahrain ace breaks Games record to complete steeplechase title hat-trick

TDT | Manama

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Winfred Yavi delivered another golden moment for Bahrain at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya yesterday, storming to a record-breaking triumph in the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase.

The reigning Olympic champion produced a devastating finish at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium to cross the line in nine minutes 04.36 seconds, smashing her own Asian Games record of 9:18.28 set in Hangzhou.

Yavi’s second gold medal of Aichi-Nagoya 2026 lifted the kingdom’s athletics haul to nine, continuing a superb campaign on the track and field.

The victory also secured the 26-year-old a third successive Asian Games steeplechase crown and the fifth Asiad title of her career.

Having completed a 1,500m and 3,000m steeplechase double at the previous Games in Hangzhou, the distance-running star once again proved untouchable over the barriers yesterday.

Kazakhstan’s Norah Jeruto Tanui claimed silver, while India’s Parul Chaudhary completed the podium with bronze. Compatriot Tigest Mekonen also competed in the eight-runner final.

There is little time for the newly crowned champion to savour her latest success, with another shot at the podium awaiting today.

She joins former Olympic champion Ruth Jebet in a formidable two-pronged challenge in the women’s 5,000m final at 2.43pm Bahrain time.

Relay Charge

Another medal opportunity awaits in the women’s 4x100m relay after Edidiong Odiong, Layla Kamal, Hajar Alkhaldi and Raihanah Garoubah booked their place in today’s final.

The quartet produced a season-best 44.42 seconds in yesterday’s heats to advance as one of the two fastest teams outside the automatic qualifying places.

They return to the track at 4.04pm today, with Bahrain boasting a proud history in the event as the Games record holders following their 42.73 run at Jakarta 2018.

The men’s quartet of Ali Haji, Abbas Ali, Ebrahim Omar and Abdulraof Rashid missed out on the final after clocking 40.03 in their heat.

Elsewhere, Odiong finished fifth in the women’s 200m final in 23.41 seconds, while Ahmed Mohamoud placed 12th in the men’s high jump after clearing 2.05 metres.

Final Push

The medal hunt continues today as the kingdom enters its final day of involvement in the athletics programme with several opportunities still on the table.

Fresh from winning the 1,500m title, Nelly Korir begins her bid for a second individual gold in the women’s 800m. She lines up in Heat One at 2.20pm, with the first three advancing automatically and the next two fastest across the heats also progressing to the final.

Before that, the mixed 4x100m relay team begin their campaign at 12.30pm. Drawn in lane two of Heat One, they must finish in the top three to qualify automatically, with another two places available to the fastest remaining teams.

Yavi and Jebet then take centre stage in the 5,000m before the women’s sprint quartet chase the podium later in the afternoon, offering further chances to add to an already impressive nine-medal haul before the athletics campaign comes to a close.