By Nawaf Al-Deqbasi
DOHA, April 6 (KUNA) -- Kuwait took 38 medals - 13 gold, 10 silver and 15 bronze - at the conclusion of the second Gulf Cooperation Council youth athletics championship for boys and girls in Doha on Sunday.
Kuwait''''s young male athletes took home six gold, six silver and bronze medals to earn second spot on the medals'''' table, Kuwait Athletics Federation Treasurer Mohsen Al-Ajmi told KUNA.
The gold medals were clinched by Meshal Al-Mutairi, both in the 100m and 200m sprints, Fahad Al-Halili in the javelin throw, Mubarak Qanbar in the long jump, Khaled Al-Subaiei in the triple jump, Khaled Abdullateef in the high jump and Mohammad Hamasha in the decathlon.
Silver medals were taken by Ibrahim Al-Fadhli in the shot put, Saleh Al-Shawaf in the pole vault, Fawaz Al-Yaqout in the 800m, Saad Al-Azmi in the 110m hurdles and a team of Al-Azmi, Al-Mutairi, Al-Shawwaf and Ghazi Jaaed in the 4x100m relay.
As for the bronze medals, they were achieved by Abdullah Mahmoud in the 400m hurdles, Mubarak Abdullateef in the 110m hurdles, Fawaz Al-Yaqout in the 1,500m race, Fehaid Al-Ajmi in the 3,000m steeplechase.
Mubarak Qanbar in the triple jump, Saud Al-Thuwaini in the high jump, Faisal Suroor in the discus throw, Salman Ahmad in the javelin throw, Ali Dashti in the hammer throw and a team of Mahmoud, Al-Yagout, Hamasha and Mohammad Jasim in the 4x400m relay.
Kuwait''''s head athletics coach Bader Abbas said that the results reflect the hard work put in by the athletes and the backroom staff - despite the burden of school hours and studying where the young athletes are concerned.
The youngsters will form the backbone of the future national team, he said, adding that the team is currently preparing for both the Arab championships in Cairo on April 23 and the West Asia championships in Bahrain on May 15.
These two competitions will help the team qualify for both the Youth Olympic Games and the Asian Youth Games both in Nanjing, China.
Meanwhile, the girls took 15 medals - six gold, four silver and five bronze, according to their coach Awatef Bin Hussain.
The Gold medals were clinched by Modhawi Al-Shemmeri in both the 100m and 200m, Salsabeel Al-Sayyar in the heptathlon, Al-Bandari Al-Mayyas in the 400m, a team consisting Al-Sayyar, Al-Mayyas, Al-Shemmeri and Nadia Al-Haqqan in the 4x100m relay and another consisting Dalal Al-Salibi, Lina Al-Qallaf, Dana Al-Zanki and Sakina Hadi in the 4x400m relay.
Silver were won by Salsabeel Al-Sayyar in the 100m hurdles, Lina Al-Qallaf in the 400m hurdles, Aisha Al-Khodhor in the discus throw and Batool Al-Deen in the hammer throw.
Bronze were taken by Batool Ashkanani in the shot put, Shahad Al-Khashti in the long jump and Shahad Al-Bader in the hammer throw.
The young girls benefited from two domestic training camps before taking part in the competition thanks to efforts of President of the Kuwait Women''''s Sports Federation Sheikha Naeema Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, said the coach.
Coach Bin Hussain praised the 13-member female athlete contingent for the commitment to training and their achievement of exceptional timings despite their young ages.
The youngest of these athletes, Modhawi Al-Shemmeri, who is the winner of three gold medals, expressed her gratitude for the efforts of her coaches, federation chief Sheikh Naeema and her club Salwa Sports Club for Women. (end) nnd.sd