Doha: The Qatari 3×3 basketball team clinched the bronze medal on Monday at the 3rd Asian Youth Games, taking place in the Kingdom of Bahrain until October 31. The event features participation from over 5,000 athletes representing 45 Asian Olympic Committees.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Qatari team triumphed over Mongolia with a score of 18-13 in the third-place match, concluding the 3×3 basketball competition. This victory added to Qatar’s medal tally at the Games, now totaling four. Previously, runner Idris Abubaker won gold in the 110-meter hurdles, Dana Salem earned a silver in the 100-meter race, and the equestrian team secured a silver in show jumping.
The Qatari team showcased strong performance against Mongolia, joining China and Bahrain on the podium. China claimed gold, while Bahrain took silver after defeating Qatar in the semi-finals with a score of 21-10. The Qatari team had reached the semi-finals by defeating Chinese Taipei 21-10 in the quarter-finals.
Overall, the Qatari team achieved seven victories with a single loss, dominating Group 3 in the group stage. They secured wins against Cambodia, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Maldives, and Palestine.
The Qatari team comprised athletes Mohammed Saeed Badri, Pakayakani Mboji, Mahamadou Diop, and Azzam Mohammed Yakan. In swimming, Qatari swimmer Mohammed Ismail narrowly missed a podium finish in the 100m butterfly, where Iranian Mohammad Mahdi won gold, Filipino Jamesray Ajido took silver, and Hong Kong’s Ken Hee James claimed bronze.
In table tennis, Qatari players Issa Al-Haddad, Abdulaziz Al-Abdullah, and Youssef Al Abdullah registered victories against their counterparts from Kuwait, Maldives, and Cambodia, respectively. Meanwhile, Qatari cyclist Abdul Ali Hamza finished 21st in the individual time trial, and badminton player Hamad Al Malki was defeated by Singapore’s Ji Rui Chew.
Qatar’s contingent for this edition consists of 67 athletes competing in 16 sports, including athletics, badminton, 3×3 basketball, equestrian, and others. Yassin Ismail, manager of the Qatari 3×3 basketball team, expressed pride in the team’s bronze medal achievement, highlighting its significance and the motivation it provides for future competitions.