BAHRAIN’S women doubles teams claimed gold and bronze medals in the Seventh Arab Men’s and Third Women’s Bowling Championship.
Bahrain’s Nadia Al Awadhi and Noora Majed won gold with a total of 2,163 points for an average of 180.3 and a highest score at 401.
Bahrain’s Layla Al Janahi and Majeda Taher compiled 2,093 points for an average of 174.4 and a highest score of 384 to claim the bronze medal.
Al Awadhi, who was earlier crowned the women’s singles champion, said she was thrilled to win a second gold medal.
“We’ve practiced hard for this. It’s the first time I got back to winning ways since Bahrain’s last victory in 2006.
“I gave birth and it was hard to cope, but we trained well on the mental aspect of the game to win it again,” said Al Awadhi.
“My work was vey flexible and my CEO was understanding enough to know that this is as important to me as my job and he easily approved my leave,” added Al Awadhi who works as a lawyer with Batelco.
Her partner Majed was equally excited after winning the gold.
“We’ve practiced for three months for this tournament and to finally win a gold is something big for us,” said Majed.
“The last time we won a medal was in 2007 at the GCC tournament and we’ve been trying to do so since then and now we finally did it.”
Al Janahi and Taher attributed their success to hard work.
“All the hard work we put in has paid back. I have a smile on my face and I can’t hide it,” said Taher.
Weekends
“I’ve spent the last three month doing nothing but practice daily for two hours, except weekends. I put in everything I could and here I am with a medal,” said Al Janahi.
Taher also expressed her visions for the future.
“I’m looking forward to winning more. My dream is to one day participate in the World Championship and I think I can achieve it.
“I’m still a student at university so I have a long way ahead of me but this feels good for all the hard work we put in. I don’t have approved leave from my university yet but I hope this medal makes the difference,” said Taher who studies business at the Bahrain Polytechnic University.
Team coach Hoonpuo Lee said he was very proud of his players.
“I am very proud of their achievement, bowling is a long game and they needed the patience to win.
“They played very well and deserved their victories. They followed my instructions throughout,” said the South Korean coach.
Egyptian bowlers Sara Gamal and Aliaa Mohamed won the silver medal with 2,116 points for an average of 176.3 and a highest score of 376.
“It’s my first time here in Bahrain and it’s a lovely place to be in. The organisation of the championship is good,” said Gamal.
“We are disappointed not to win gold. That’s what we wanted to achieve but this will only make us work harder.”
The women’s team and the men’s trios will take place today at 9am. The men and women masters kick off on Sunday with the top 16 in the fray.