Curtains come down on gala event
DOHA: Qatar excelled both on the sports field and organisational front as a truly magnificent edition of the Arab Games came to a befitting end at the Al Sadd Stadium on Friday.
The Heir Apparent HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani crowned the winners as colourful fireworks brought curtains down on the 14-day extravaganza.
Bahrain beat Jordan 1-0 to clinch the football gold which was the last event of the 12th editio. Ismail Abdullatif netted the all-important goal in the 88th minute.
Egypt emerged as the overall champions with Tunisia ending up as runners-up and Morocco third.
Hosts Qatar finished fourth with a tally of 110 medals — 32 gold, 38 silver and 40 bronze.
They won three medals on the final day.
In equestrianism, in individual jumping, Asian Games gold medallist Ali Al Rumaihi reigned supreme. He completed the course in 47.17sec, ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Kamal Bahamdan (47.97).
Shooter Ahmed Mohammed Al Rumaihi ensured Qatar a silver when he, in men’s trap, was involved in a tight 4-3 shoot-off win against Lebanon’s Joe Salem after both were tied on 137 points. Kuwait’s Nasser Meqlad (140) won gold.
In fencing, Qatar’s women’s foil team, consisting of Ghareeba, Noora and Jawaher lost to Tunisia’s Ines Boubakri, Sarra Besbes and Haifa Jabri 5-45 in the semifinal, but ensured bronze.