The victorious Qatari basketball team celebrate on the podium. Qatari cagers outsmarted the UAE 53-39 to wrap up their triumphant run at the fifth GCC Women’s Games in style. The multi-sport gala concluded with a colourful closing ceremony at Aspire Dome
Hosts Qatar wrapped up their triumphant run at the fifth GCC Women’s Games in style, thrashing the UAE in the basketball final, as the multi-sporting gala concluded with a colourful closing ceremony at Aspire Dome on Friday night.
The Qatari athletes excelled in almost all the disciplines of the four-nation spectacle, accumulating a total of 60 medals (21 gold, 20 silver, 19 bronze) to finish on top. Zhu Chen, who won two gold medals in chess, and Qatar’s table tennis and shooting teams which sparkled in their respective disciplines grabbed the headlines during the 11-day event.
Around 900 athletes and officials representing Bahrain, the UAE and Oman besides the hosts competed in 10 different games in this year’s regional women sporting fiesta.
On Friday, the Qatari cagers outsmarted the UAE 53-39 winning in the final to end the event on a high note.
The closing ceremony, which showcased Qatar tradition in spectacular fashion was held under the patronage of organising committee chairman Dr Thani Al Kuwari, who honoured the top three teams of the games.
The impressive ceremony was also witnessed by Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Deputy General Secretary and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) board member, Women’s Sport Committee Chairperson and delegation Head Sheikha Hayat Bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, GCC Women’s Organising Committee Chairperson Sheikha Naima Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and other high-ranking officials.
During the final day of the games, it was confirmed that Kuwait will host the next games in 2019.
Meanwhile, the UAE secured a total of 32 medals including 12 gold, 8 silver and 12 bronze medals while Oman won 36 medals including 10 gold, 9 silver and 17 bronze medals. The Bahraini women claimed a total of 14 medals including 5, gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze.
The participants, particularly the visiting athletes hailed the arrangements and hospitality shown towards them by the Qatari organisers. They also backed other women to take part in sports.
In a similar message, Qatar’s inspirational female athlete Nada Mohamed Wafa Arakji stressed women to take up sports.
“I encourage all the girls not to be afraid and take part in sports. I will advise them to be confident and do what they want,” she said.
Nada became the first female Olympian for the country when she took part in the 50m freestyle at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
