DOHA: In a festive sporting environment, Qatar Olympic Committee’s (QOC) Secretary-General, Dr Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari inaugurated the competitions of the 25th GCC Water Games 2015 which are organised by Qatar Swimming Association (QSA) at the Hamad Aquatic Complex in Doha.
Taha Al Kashri, the President of GCC Swimming Organisational Committee, Khaleel Al Jaber, President of Qatar Swimming Association (QSA), and senior organisers besides Essa Al Zaraa, QSA Assistant Secretary-General, and Mohammed Essa Al Fadallah, the QSA board member, attended the opening ceremony.
In the opening round Hamad Aquatic Complex, Qatar swimmers bagged 11 medals including five gold, four silver and two bronze.
Qatar’s Abdullah Abo Ghazalah seized two medals: gold and silver while Qatar’s relay squad comprising of Waleed Daloul, Omar Hosham, Noah Al Kholaifi, Yagoub Al Kholaifi won a gold medal in their team category.
Also on day one, Qatar’s Omar Hosham claimed two medals (silver and bronze), Waleed Daloul won a silver medal while Yousef Al Kholaifi clinched two gold medals.
The relay team consisting of Abdulaziz Bo Hindi, Abdulrahman Al Daleel, Yousef Al Kholaifi, Tamim Al Saffar won a gold.
Other medal winners for Qatar included Abdulrahman Al Daleel who won the silver while Abdulaziz Bo Hindi bagged a bronze medal in 10-year class.
The QSA President and Head of Organising Committee, Al Jaber lauded the dazzling performance showed by the Qatari swimmers in the event’s opening round. “It was exciting to see young swimming talent competing for medals,” Al Jaber said.
“Swimming is a hugely popular sport in the region,” he added.
The on-going GCC Water Games 2015 has brought together swimmers from all GCC countries including hosts Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, the UAE, KSA and Kuwait, Al Jaber added.
THE PENINSULA
