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Bahrain duo bag table tennis goldOct 14, 2011 (Gulf Daily News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- BAHRAIN claimed the women's table tennis doubles gold and bronze medals in the first-ever GCC Games yesterday at Isa Sports City's Arena in Riffa. Mariam Al Qasmi and Kaltham Al Yasi gave Bahrain its second gold medal in this discipline, having led their nation to a gold medal in the team event on Wednesday. Facing a stern challenge from their Kuwaiti opponent Menwah Al Shamari and Mariam Abdulrahim in the final, the Bahraini pair put up an outstanding show to win the tie 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-5) and emerge champions. However, medals won in table tennis competition are not counted in the Games' overall medal tally. Earlier, Al Qasmi and Al Yasi began their campaign beating compatriots Fatma Al Qasmi and Nadeen Al Khudher 3-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-5) in the quarter-finals. They marched on winning their semi-final tie against Kuwait's Shaikha Al Hamad and Fatma Abdulla 3-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-6). The Al Shamari/Abdulrahim pair kick-started their campaign with an easy 3-0 (11-2, 11-1, 11-2) win over Oman's Hadeer Al Rashdi and Abeer Al Hoqani to book a berth in the semi-finals against Bahrain's Hesa Al Zayani and Fatima Al Hayki, whom they beat 3-0 (11-8, 11-1, 11-4) to set up the title clash. In the third-place match, Al Zayani and Al Hayki took the bronze medal for Bahrain with a hard-fought 3-1 (11-9, 12-10, 12-14, 11-8) win over Al Hamad and Abdulla. Meanwhile, Al Qasmi and Abdulrahim will clash tonight in the singles final. The singles event got underway yesterday with 20 players vying for glory. Al Qasmi made it to the title clash defeating Oman's Heba Al Naabi 3-0 (11-5, 11-4, 11-3) with ease in the first round. The Bahraini continued to dominate proceedings, winning her next tie against UAE's Noura Mahfood 3-0 (11-1, 11-4, 11-3) to set up a semi-final clash with Al Shamari, whom she beat 3-1 (11-7, 8-11, 15-13, 11-7). Her opponent, Abdulrahim, qualified with a 3-1 (11-7, 5-11, 11-4, 12-10) semi-final victory against compatriot Shaikha Al Hamad. Abdulrahim earlier edged past UAE's Majd Al Blooshi 3-1 (11-13, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9) in the first round, before outplaying Bahrain's Al Yasi 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-5) in the quarter-finals. Today will be the last day of women's table tennis, commencing at 5pm with the singles bronze medal tie between Kuwait's Al Shamari and compatriot Shaikha Al Hamad. The gold medal clash between Abdulrahim and Al Qasmi will then get underway at 5.30pm, to be followed by the medals awarding ceremony. It will be held under the patronage of Bahrain Table Tennis Association's president Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Shaikh Ahmed, the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) general secretary, congratulated the winners after the doubles final along with BOC member and former Bahrain national team table tennis player Shaikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa who witnessed yesterday's action. ___ (c)2011 the Gulf Daily News (Manama, Bahrain) Visit the Gulf Daily News (Manama, Bahrain) at www.gulf-daily-news.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |