FIRST deputy president of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of West Asian Athletics Association and Bahrain Athletic Association Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa congratulated His Majesty King Hamad on Bahrain winning four medals (one gold, two silver and a bronze) at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships which concluded yesterday in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Shaikh Khalid said the achievement was the result of the never ending support of His Majesty to the sports sector in the Kingdom.
Shaikh Khalid also congratulated His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, and Representative of His Majesty for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, chairman of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and president of Bahrain Olympic Committee Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa for their support and encouragement.
Bahrain’s Edidiong Ofonime Odiong made history on Saturday winning the women’s 200m gold, becoming the Kingdom’s first-ever world champion in the sprints at the global under-20 level.
The silver medals were won by Tigist Getnet in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase (9:34.08) and Dalila Abdulkadir Gosa in the women’s 3,000m (8:46.42) while Bontu Rebitu won the bronze in the women’s 5,000m (15:31.93).
Suprassed
Shaikh Khalid added that the Bahrain team surpassed their previous achievement in the last edition in the US where the team won a gold, silver and two bronze medals.
“This reflects the continuing evolution of our athletes under the plans of Bahrain Athletics Association,” said Shaikh Khalid.
“The results augurs well as Bahrain gear up to take part in the 2017 World Championships and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, apart from the Rio Olympics starting in two weeks time.”
Odiong put in a superb show to finish well ahead of the field in 22.84 seconds. She had more than one reason to celebrate at the end, as her time was also a new personal best and a national under-20 record.
“I started well but I wasn’t sure if the others were going to catch me,” said Odiong, who is also a part of the Bahrain team that will be competing at Rio Games.
“My opponents were the best junior runners in the world so you never know what will happen in Rio,” said Odiong.