Qatar clinches the table tennis gold medal

Qatar today clinched the table tennis gold medal as hosts Bahrain finished third overall in the Third GCC Women's Games at the Bahrain Table Tennis Association gym in Isa Sports City in Riffa. On the second and concluding day of the team event single round robin tournament, top seed Qatar lived up to many expectations to win their third and last tie against Bahrain 3-1 to top this four-team event with a 100 per cent win record and six points to their credit. The Kuwaitis, who stunned Bahrain 3-2 in the competition opener, marched on top beat winless Oman 3-0 to finish second with five points. Oman fifth fourth and last with three straight defeats. The top three teams were honoured by GCC Organising Committee chairwoman Shaikha Naima Al Sabah, Technical Committee head Dr Mohamed Al Ruwaished, committee member Ahmed Al Bahar, Bahrain Volleyball Association member Salman Yousef and GCC teams officials at the awarding ceremony. Table tennis action continued after the team event deciding matches as the singles and doubles sections got underway in a similar round robin format. Both the singles and doubles competitions finals are scheduled for tonight. Elsewhere, the five-team round robin volleyball tournament got underway with the UAE and Qatar making flying start to their campaigns. The UAE, defending champions, made short work of Kuwait to clinch a 3-0 victory. Set scores were 25-19, 25-22, 25-19 at the Bahrain Volleyball Association Gym in Riffa. Skipper Fatima Hassan was the hero in the UAE victory. The UAE, coached by recently-appointed national tactician Attiya Al Sayed, were also inspired by several prominent players like Tadya Al Moamaria, Mona Haider and Asma Ahmed. Kuwait, coached by former international Faouzi Al Ma'atoq, were banking on some of their rising volleyball players like Anwar Al Omar, Huda Al Rasheed and Noora Al Najada, who made the most of scoring in yesterday's game. Earlier yesterday, Oman eased past Qatar 3-0 (25-15, 25-10, 25-18) to share the UAE the lead with two points each. Liqa'a Al Hosani, Shahira Al Zedjali and Maryam Al Shibli were the stars of the game for the Yaqoub Al Meqbali-coached Omanis as they put on a superb show while scoring from all over the court for a well-earned victory. As for the Qataris, who had several new faces from the Second GCC Women's Championship in Abu Dhabi, Reem Al Turki was the most key player along with Maryam Mubarak Noaf Al Suwaidi, Ashjan Ali. Bahrain, who had a rest day, will play their first game today against Qatar at 7pm, after which Oman will go up against Kuwait in the day’s first game at 5pm. The basketball competition also gets underway today (WEDNESDAY) with Kuwait challenging defending champions Qatar at 4pm at the Bahrain Disabled Sports Federation premises in Riffa. In today's other match, set to tip off at 6pm, Bahrain look to capitalize on the home advantage as they face the UAE in their first test of this five-team round robin event. From AFP