By Abdellatif Sharaa
KUWAIT: The Arab Badminton Championship that was held in Kuwait ended with Jordan winning the largest number of medals, following very strong competition from Egypt, Syria and Algeria, bearing in mind that Jordan had unprecedented success earlier by winning the West Asia Championship. Kuwait won two bronze medals in the women's U15 by Dalal Al-Awadhi and Mariam Sayyed Hashim, and in the U19 by Ghaliya Abdulraheem and Fowz Ali.
Jordan won the gold in the women's U15 singles by Maria Sami, while Jordan's Ismail Omar won the men's singles gold. Jana Usaily and Maria Sami won the women's doubles gold, while the men's doubles was won by Syria's Al-Baraa Al-Baraka and Hussam Al-Deen Raei. In the U17, Jordan's Marah Omar won the gold medal in the women's singles, while Egypt's Mohammad Al-Shinnawi won the men's gold.
In the women's doubles, Marah Omar and Mariam Ahmad from Jordan won gold, while the Egyptian men's double team of Mohammad Al-Shinnawi and Sief Abu Eid won gold. In the U19, Jordan's Lamees Al-Khateem won the singles gold while Qusai Al-Dhawahiri won the men's gold. In the women's doubles, Reem Hassan and Janna Tariq from Egypt won the gold medal while Jordan's double Saif Abu Eid and Qusai Al-Dhawahiri won the men's gold.
Assistant Secretary of Kuwait Olympic Committee, President of Kuwait Badminton Federation and Deputy Chairman of Asian Badminton Federation Ali Al-Merri said Kuwait's success in organizing the West Asia and Arab Championship is the success of all, especially since Kuwait organized the first two official championships for the first time in its history. The general referee of the championship Hizam Ismail from Iraq confirmed Kuwait's success in organizing the Arab event, which was characterized by competitiveness and excitement.
The Arab Championship was concluded Friday, which was held for the U15, U17 and U19 for men and women with the participation of Kuwait (host), Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Egypt and Algeria, under the patronage of President of Kuwait Olympic Committee Sheikh Fahad Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.