Manama: Bahrain's athletics contingent secured its first medal at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games, held in Saudi Arabia, as runner Violah Motosio delivered an exceptional performance to claim the silver medal in the women's 10,000-metre race, one of the marquee long-distance events of the Games. Motosio ran a strong and consistent race from the outset, remaining firmly within the leading pack before securing second place thanks to her sustained pace and powerful finishing laps, crossing the line narrowly behind Uganda's Rebecca Chelangat, who took gold.
According to Bahrain News Agency, in the same event, Bahraini athlete Ruth Jebet finished in fifth place after a spirited contest against a highly competitive field. With this achievement, Violah Motosio boosted Bahrain's overall medal tally at the Islamic Solidarity Games to 13 medals, comprising five gold, four silver, and four bronze medals, further strengthening the Kingdom's presence in the competition and reaffirming the distinguished regional and international standing of Bahraini athletics. The Bahraini sporting community now looks ahead with optimism to further positive results in the remaining athletics events over the coming days, as a strong line-up of the Kingdom's elite runners and athletes continues their participation across various disciplines.
In athletics, Bahraini middle-distance runner Zouhair Awad qualified for the men's 1500m final after delivering a solid performance in the second heat, securing a top finishing position that guaranteed him a place in the final round. Awad demonstrated excellent physical and technical readiness throughout the race, reaffirming his competitive form and his ability to contend strongly for a podium finish in the final, as Bahrain seeks to add yet another achievement in athletics at the Islamic Solidarity Games. Meanwhile, Noora Jasim was unable to advance in the women's discus throw final, finishing in seventh place.
In men's 3x3 basketball, the Bahrain National Team advanced to the semi-finals of the competition after securing two well-deserved victories over Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Bahrain opened its campaign in the 3x3 event with a commanding 21-13 win over Egypt in Monday's opening clash of Group A. The result reflected the team's strong technical and physical preparedness, as well as its ability to dictate the pace and rhythm of the game throughout. The match witnessed clear superiority from the Bahraini side, who entered the contest with confidence and maintained control through quick movement, accurate shooting, and disciplined defensive organisation, significantly limiting Egypt's scoring opportunities.
Bahrain's standout performer in the opening match was Bogdan Dragovic, who scored 10 points through a series of sharp two-pointers and decisive drives to the basket. Milos Subka also delivered a strong showing, adding 8 points and proving to be an influential figure throughout the game. Additionally, Sayed Mohamed Kadhem contributed two important points, while Mohamed Buallay added a further point to seal Bahrain's advantage.
In the second match, the national team claimed another convincing victory, defeating Saudi Arabia 21-11. The Bahrainis produced a dominant display, asserting their superiority from the opening minute until the final whistle. The team demonstrated high readiness and clear cohesion in both offensive and defensive phases, steadily building their lead through intelligent movement and quick, efficient finishing. Subka was once again the star of the game, delivering a standout performance with 9 points, forming the backbone of Bahrain's win. Dragovic continued his strong form, adding 6 points, including successful shots from beyond the arc. Mohamed Buallay contributed 5 points alongside a balanced defensive effort, while Sayed Mohamed Kadhem completed the tally with a valuable point for the national team.
Following the two victories, Bahrain officially secured its qualification ahead of its third match tomorrow against Algeria, with hopes high that the team will maintain its strong momentum and continue pushing towards a podium finish.
In fencing, Bahraini fencers Nasser Al-Salhi and Saleh Bukhlaif took part in the men's ©p©e competition but were unable to progress to the advanced rounds. Each athlete registered one win in the group stage before exiting the event despite showing determination and fighting spirit throughout their participation. Meanwhile, in taekwondo, Bahraini athlete Abdulaziz Al Doseri was defeated in the Round of 16 of the men's over-82kg category, losing 0-2 to Iran's Ali Ahmadi. Despite delivering a commendable performance on the mat and making several attempts to score, Al-Doseri ultimately fell short due to the greater experience of his opponent, concluding Bahrain's participation in the taekwondo events.