Qatar continued to bolster its medal count at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with victories in wrestling and fencing on Wednesday. Khalid Al-Yafei secured a bronze in men’s foil fencing, while Shaheen Mohammad added a bronze in the 77kg wrestling category, bringing Qatar’s total to seven medals – three gold, two silver, and two bronze – in the multi-sport event. The games, which showcase athletic talent across the Islamic world, are currently underway and are expected to conclude on May 26th.
The latest successes follow strong performances in handball and athletics, further solidifying Qatar’s position among the leading nations at the competition. According to reports from The Peninsula, these wins demonstrate the country’s commitment to developing a diverse range of sporting talents. Qatar’s athletes are competing across numerous disciplines, aiming to achieve personal bests and contribute to national pride.
Qatar’s Wrestling Team Secures Bronze at Islamic Solidarity Games
Shaheen Mohammad’s bronze medal in the 77kg wrestling event was a highlight of the day. He secured his victory with an 8-1 win over Tunisia’s Sami Salama after navigating a challenging bracket. Mohammad had previously defeated Turkey’s Younes Basar in the quarter-finals, but fell to Kyrgyzstan’s Akzhol Makhmudov in the semi-final round.
Additional Wrestling Results
Qatar’s Aref Mohammedi narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth in the 67kg category after a 2-5 loss to Uzbekistan’s Aytjan Khalkhmakhanov. These results highlight the growing strength of Qatar’s wrestling program, which has seen increased investment in recent years.
Meanwhile, in fencing, Khalid Al-Yafei’s path to the bronze medal saw him lose a close semi-final bout against Turkey’s Kivanc Kirtay 10-15. The fencing competition has been closely contested, with athletes from across the Islamic world demonstrating a high level of skill. This performance adds to Qatar’s growing reputation in fencing.
Qatar’s handball team continued its dominant run, securing a resounding 44-6 victory over the Maldives. This win ensured Qatar topped Group A with a perfect record and will now face Bahrain in the semi-finals. The team is considered a strong contender for the gold medal, having previously achieved success in regional competitions.
In athletics, Abubaker Haydar qualified for the 800m final after winning his heat with a time of 1:50.09. However, teammates Ashraf Osman and Hussein Ibrahim were unable to advance in the 400m event. Ahmed Jibril finished fourth in the men’s shot put with a throw of 18.51m, demonstrating competitive performance in athletics.
The Qatari men’s 3×3 basketball team also advanced to the semi-finals, topping Group B despite a narrow loss to Iran. The women’s 3×3 team concluded their participation after facing defeats against Iran and Egypt.
Looking ahead, Qatar’s athletes will continue to compete across various disciplines, with the handball semi-final against Bahrain being a key event to watch. The progression of athletes like Abubaker Haydar in athletics and the continued performance of the wrestling team will also be crucial to Qatar’s overall success at the Islamic Solidarity Games. Further results and medal tallies will be updated as the competition progresses, with the closing ceremony scheduled for May 26th.
