Manama, Jan.9 (BNA) The competitions of the first week of the five-week long Bahrain Tournament for Falcon and Hunting was concluded on Saturday at Al Sabkha area near Bahrain International Endurance Village, in the presence of HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and President of Bahrain Athletic Federation, who awarded the winners of the first week’s contests.
On the occasion, HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and President of Bahrain Olympic Committee appreciated the enthusiasm shown from the contenders from Bahrain and other GCC countries in the first week of the tournament, adding that such sports reflect the genuine Arabian origins of the people of the Arabian Gulf.
HH Shaikh Nasser thanked the media and organising committees for their efforts to bring out a successful traditional sports event which he said is an honour to preserve and promote amid younger generations.
The competitions of the first week were concluded on Saturday with the falconry contests of HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Nasser Al Khalifa Cup and HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalid Al Khalifa Cup, besides a qualifying race for Saluki hunting dogs (males), a shooting contest for juniors and a traditional race for Arabian horses.
Attending the tournament were the sons of HH Shaikh Nasser, HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and HH Shaikh Hamad bin Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, as well as the sons of HH Shaikh Khalid, HH Shaikh Faisal bin Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HH Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa, President of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation, Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashid AL Khalifa, Governor of Southern Governorate and a number of the Royal Family members.
HH Shaikh Khalid awarded the first three winners of the five competitions held on Saturday. Falconers Ali Saeed Al Mirri, Salim Hamad Al Saeedy and Saad Abdulla Al Rumaihi won the first three positions of HH Shaikh Faisal bin Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, respectively.
Falconers Mohammed Shaheen Al Balooshi, Majid Hassan Al Nuaimi and Mubarak Ibrahim Al Buainain were the first three winners of HH Shaikh Hamad bin Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup. The first three places of HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa went to falconers Mohammed Ibrahim Al Buainain, Salim Mohammed Al Otaibi and Hamad Saad Al Salimi. HH Shaikh Khalid also awarded the winners of the Saluki hunting dogs race and the traditional Arabian horses race.
The events of the championship were covered by Bahrain Sports Channel, Al Sahra Channel, beIN International Sports Channel and Al Dawri and Al Kaas Qatari Sports Channels, in addition to a number of local and regional newspapers.
The competitions of the second week will begin on Thursday the 14th of January and will be concluded on Saturday the 16th of the same month. It will include several falconry competitions and advanced stages of Saluki hunting dogs races, shooting contests and a traditional Arabian horse race.
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BNA 1828 GMT 2016/01/09