Bahrain celebrated a milestone in its sporting history last night, crowning its first group of national boxing champions.
Eleven skilled fighters clinched championship belts as the inaugural Bahrain National Boxing Championship concluded at the Bahrain Table Tennis Association hall in Isa Sports City, Riffa.
Under the backing of Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Supreme Council for Youth and Sport’s first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority (GSA) chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee president, the final night of bouts was a spectacle of talent and determination.
GSA deputy chairman and Bahrain Combat Sports Council president Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa presented the championship belts and gold medals to the winners, along with silver and bronze medals to other podium finishers.
Roll of Champions
The list of the Kingdom’s first national champions includes Ali Asad, Mohammed Fakhr, Tariq Raed, Omar Budhahei, Muhammad Lukwago, Okafor Chukwumaobim, and Augustine Isaac among the elite men; Maryam Khamis among the elite women; and Abdulrahman Ahmed, Youssef Bouzgarrou, and Yusuf Abdallah among the youth.
Ali Asad, the elite men’s 71kg to 80kg category champion, expressed his joy, saying, “Finally, it’s actually mine.” Asad won a 3-2 split decision against Mohemmed Alshami. “It was a tough fight, but I was up for it,” he said.
Bader Moussa and Mohammad Sohaib took joint bronze in this category. In the elite women’s 51kg to 54kg final, Maryam Khamis came out on top against Rosie Jessop with a 3-2 split decision.
“Winning the national championship for the first time, I am so happy,” Khamis said, adding that she is eager for more achievements. Abdulrahman Ahmed won the youth over 92 kg division, defeating Adam Sameer 5-0 on points.
“This championship means so much to me,” said the 18-year-old. “I have worked so hard for this moment.” Ahmed hopes this victory will lead to an opportunity to train with Bahrain’s national boxing team, a long-time dream of his.
