BAHRAIN signed off from the 18th Asian Games yesterday with a record haul of 26 medals - 12 gold, seven silver and seven bronze.
It was the Kingdom’s best-ever performance and easily beat the 19-medal haul at previous Games in Incheon, South Korea, four years ago.
Bahrain finished 11th overall among 37 countries and were first among GCC nations and also shared first place with China in the athletics medal table.
China topped the standing with a staggering 289 medals including 132 gold, 92 silver and 65 bronze. Japan followed with 204 - 74 gold, 56 silver and 74 bronze and South Korea third with 176 - 49 gold, 57 silver and 70 bronze medals.
The Games end today with a closing ceremony, starting 2pm Bahrain time.
Though Bahrain did not win any medal on the penultimate day yesterday, teenager Omar Ali gave a glimpse into a promising future finishing a credible 22nd among 34 participants in the men’s triathlon.
The teenager finished the gruelling event in two hours five minutes and 28 seconds. He covered the 1.5km swim in 21 minute and 55 seconds, took one three three minutes and seven seconds to complete the 10km cycling and completed the 10km run in 39 minute and 25 seconds.
Ali was over 15 minutes behind gold medallist Jumpei Furuya of Japan, who timed 1:49:43. Ayan Beisenbayed of Kazakhstan claimed the silver in 1;50:38 and Mingxu Li of China the bronze in 1:50:49.
Four triathletes did not finish the race yesterday while another two were disqualified.
Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Murtaz Ali suffered an injury during his Round of 32 somba match against Aibol Aitbek of Kazakhstan in the men’s under-90kg category.
Aitbek was leading 4-0 when Ali sustained his injury. Later, he was accompanied by his coach Eldar Eldarov to a local hospital to get an assessment and treatment for his injury.
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