*** ----> Bahrain triumph in wheelchair basketball | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Bahrain triumph in wheelchair basketball

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s national wheelchair basketball team achieved an exciting 67- 54 victory over Oman yesterday in the third West Asian Paralympic Games, being hosted by the Kingdom.

His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), President of the General Sports Authority (GSA) and Chief of the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC), inaugurated the event in an opening ceremony held Sunday night at Arad Fort, in the presence of several officials from the Kingdom and the presidents of the participating delegations. With the event officially underway, the action began on the playing court.

In wheelchair basketball, it was the second game for the hosts after they earlier lost their opener to the UAE. The Bahrainis needed to battle back from a slow start to claim their win against Oman.

Bahrain faced an early 9-18 deficit but was then able to tie the proceedings at 28-all by the half. They then took full control of the contest in the final two quarters, en route to the well-deserved result at the final whistle. Oman lost their first game of the competition. In another wheelchair basketball fixture, Kuwait defeated their Emirati counterparts 62-49 to register their second victory in a row.

The Kuwaitis led 33- 23 at the half and never looked back, doing enough to hand their opponents their first loss. Following yesterday’s results, Kuwait is on top of the standings with four points, followed by Bah-rain and the UAE with two points apiece.

Oman and Saudi Arabia complete the table with zero points. The wheelchair basketball games continue today at Khalifa Sports City arena in Isa Town. Meanwhile, in goalball, Bahrain bowed to Iraq while Qatar won their first game of the tournament against Yemen. Both contests were ended by the referee after the winners went ahead with a 10-0 scoreline, as per tournament rules. In another match, Jordan beat Saudi 9-7.

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Glittering inauguration

HH Shaikh Khalid attended the glittering opening ceremony of the Games, in which 11 countries are competing with the participation of 700 male and female athletes.

Moreover, the event includes a crew of 70 arbitration and technical professionals from 26 countries. There are seven different sports in the Games, namely athletics, wheelchair basketball, boccia, goalball, table tennis, badminton, and weightlifting.

The opening ceremony began with the arrival of HH Shaikh Khalid, the patron of the ceremony. The participating teams— namely host Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon—took part in a parade. Shaikh Mohammed bin Duaij Al Khalifa, the President of the Bahrain Paralympic Committee and Chairman of the High Organising Committee, then delivered a speech.

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He said: “I am honoured to stand before you at this historic opening of the third West Asia Para Games, which brings together the countries of our region in a Paralympic sports forum. “I would like to extend my sincere thanks and great appreciation to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, for his care and guidance that supported the march of athletes with impairments.

I also extend my highest thanks to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for fostering a programme of the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain that focused on numerous initiatives towards people with impairments in all fields, including the sports field, which has witnessed honourable achievements. “I also have the honour to extend my thanks to His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs and President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, for his support and guidance in humanitarian matters to develop the youth and sports sector that raised the level of work in the field of sports. “I also extend my thanks and appreciation to HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the patron of the ceremony for his unlimited support and backing to the Bahrain Paralympic Committee.