The UAE has walked away with a total of 31 medals from the recent inaugural GCC games held in Manama, Bahrain. The haul includes 5 Gold, 12 Silver and 14 Bronze, which saw the UAE settle into 2nd place overall on the total medal-tally table.
The first GCC Games held in Manama during October 11- 22 were participated by 117 UAE athletes in 10 sports including Football, Handball, Basketball, Volleyball, Athletics, Cycling, Table Tennis, Swimming, Bowling and an overall Disabled athlete division.
Mohammed Abdulla Darwish led the charge for gold by claiming top spot on the podium in the Men’s Triple Jump with an outstanding 15.92meters. Mahmood Al Attar and Hussain Al Suwaidi struck gold in the Men’s Single (6 game score 1353) and Men’s Masters (final score 439) bowling divisions respectively, and wrapping up the Gold feast was Mubarak Al Besher who claimed double-Gold in the Men’s Breaststroke - 50meter (29.80seconds) and 100meter (1 minute 5.33seconds) events.
Athletes chalked-up Silver in Basketball, Cycling - Men’s individual and team time trial, Athletics - discus, high jump and 4x100 relay, Men’s Bowling - team and Swimming - Men’s 50meter and 200meter butterfly, 200meter individual medley, 4x100 freestyle relay and 4x100 medley relay.
Bronze was secured in Athletics - Men’s 200meter, javelin, hammer and 10,000meter walk, Cycling - Men’s individual and team road race, Swimming - Men’s 50meter freestyle, Men’s 100meter butterfly, Men’s 200meter breaststroke, Men’s 50 and 100meter backstroke, 400meter individual medley, 4x200meter freestyle relay and Football.
The GCC games welcomed over 1,500 athletes from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Through the games, officials and each respective National Olympic Committee aimed to provide a platform for Gulf athletes and National teams to strengthen their performance and focus on their disciplines as a lead-in to the 2011 Pan Arab and the 2012 Olympic Games.
