Six more medals for Oman as overall tally rise to 24 at first GCC Youth Games

MUSCAT: Omani athletes' push for medals continued on Friday as they won six more medals to raise their overall tally to 24 at the first GCC Youth Games in the UAE.

Three of six medals, including two gold, on Friday were won by the paralympic athletes while the other three were won by athletes at the Dubai Police Officers Club on Friday.

At the paralympic events, Faisal Samir Al Balushi snatched gold medal in the long jump competitions to end his participation with three medals, two gold and a silver. His team-mate, Maryam Ahmed Al Badi also bagged another gold medal in long jump competition in the girls' event.

Maryam then added bronze medal when she finished third in 200m race to end her Games with three medals, a gold, asilver, and bronze.

Speaking after the paralympic athletes' excellent performances, Abdullah Al Anbari, Oman paralympic athletic coach, said: “I congratulate Faisal and Maryam for their superb display that helped Oman medals tally to grow. The achievement is more noteworthy as they had less time for preparations."

Elsewhere, in the athletics event at the Dubai Police Officers Club Stadium, Ghaya Ghareeb Al Saadia finished fourth in shot put to narrowly miss out on a medal.

However, Kaltham Al Jabri got a medal with a bronze in the hammer throw competition. Al Ayham Al Fudaili then grabbed another bronze in the long jump while Azza Al Hinai took the third bronze of the day for Oman in the 100m race.

Fawzi al Kiyumi, national athletics' team manager, was glad at the team's results. He said: “It is a wonderful achievement as we won three medals today and with our prepaprations hampered by adverse weather conditions ”

Meanwhile, Oman under-18 boys' team lost to UAE team 1-2 as chess competition got underway in Sharjah on Thursday. They then lost to Kuwait 2-5. In the U-14 category for boys, Oman lost 3-0 to UAE, also also lost to Kuwait match 2-5. In the under-18 girls' category, UAE defeated Oman 3-0, and lost to Qatar 2-. In the U-14 girls event, Oman lost to UAE 3-0

Meanwhile, the handball competition will begin on Saturday in the hall of the Al Bataeh Cultural and Sports Club, with the participation of all the six nations.