truesuccess
Proud to be a Muslim
Glory for Al Ghasara
A proud moment for Ruqaya Al Ghasara (Picture: GALLO/GETTY)
Bahrain's quest for athletics supremacy was revived on Monday as they claimed two more titles, however China continued their domination of the Games overall with three more gold medals.
While the Gulf state's success has been based on their African imports, it was a homegrown Bahraini who provided one of the highlights of the day.
Ruqaya Al Ghasara produced a devastating finish in the 200 metres to become the first Bahraini women to win an Asian Games athletics gold medal.
Wearing an Islamic hijab the 24-year-old passed both the vastly experienced Susanthinka Jayasinghe of Sri Lanka and 100m titleholder Guzel Khubbieva to break the tape and swiftly fell to her knees and kissed the ground.
She said that there was no handicap to her in running in the traditional dress.
"I have no problems with the hijab," said Al Ghasara, who showed her talent in winning the West Asian 100m title last year also in Doha.
"I have a great desire to show that there are no problems with wearing these clothes. Wearing a veil proves that Muslim women face no obstacles and encourages them to compete in sport."
More Kenyan gold
Bahrain's other gold of the day came via Kenyan-born Asian record holder Yusuf Saad Kamel who won the men's 800m.
Kamel, son of disgraced two-time world champion Billy Konchellah who has served time in Finland for rape and other offences, showed his class in what was one of the more competitive events on the menu.
Ruqaya Al Ghasara clinches the title (Picture: GALLO/GETTY)
The 25-year-old bided his time until the business end of the race and was still third into the straight behind highly-rated Saudi runner Mohammed Al Salhi.
However, the Saudi faded badly while Kuwait's Muhammad Al-Azemi found nothing once Kamel challenged him and the champion strode to the line winning easily.
China's three golds came all in women's events, with discus champion Song Aimin's winning throw longer than the silver medallist in the men's event.
They found a new Olympic hope in Xue Fei, who powered to the women's 5000 metres title aged just 17, out-running Japan's Kayo Sugihara and Jaisha Orchatteri of India.
Their other gold came through Xie Limei, who won the triple jump.
Kazakstan's star decathlete Dmitriy Karpov made up for the disappointment at being disqualified in the first event at last year's world championships by winning easily here, turning silver from last time in Busan into gold.
Meanwhile, Japan's Shingo Suetsugu easily retained his 200 metres title, while Saudi Arabia's Sultan Abdulmajeed Al Hebshi won the men's shot put in a new Asian Games record of 20.42 metres.
Nothing is impossible
If you keep hope, ALLAH makes a way
MashaALLAH
A proud moment for Ruqaya Al Ghasara (Picture: GALLO/GETTY)
Bahrain's quest for athletics supremacy was revived on Monday as they claimed two more titles, however China continued their domination of the Games overall with three more gold medals.
While the Gulf state's success has been based on their African imports, it was a homegrown Bahraini who provided one of the highlights of the day.
Ruqaya Al Ghasara produced a devastating finish in the 200 metres to become the first Bahraini women to win an Asian Games athletics gold medal.
Wearing an Islamic hijab the 24-year-old passed both the vastly experienced Susanthinka Jayasinghe of Sri Lanka and 100m titleholder Guzel Khubbieva to break the tape and swiftly fell to her knees and kissed the ground.
She said that there was no handicap to her in running in the traditional dress.
"I have no problems with the hijab," said Al Ghasara, who showed her talent in winning the West Asian 100m title last year also in Doha.
"I have a great desire to show that there are no problems with wearing these clothes. Wearing a veil proves that Muslim women face no obstacles and encourages them to compete in sport."
More Kenyan gold
Bahrain's other gold of the day came via Kenyan-born Asian record holder Yusuf Saad Kamel who won the men's 800m.
Kamel, son of disgraced two-time world champion Billy Konchellah who has served time in Finland for rape and other offences, showed his class in what was one of the more competitive events on the menu.
Ruqaya Al Ghasara clinches the title (Picture: GALLO/GETTY)
The 25-year-old bided his time until the business end of the race and was still third into the straight behind highly-rated Saudi runner Mohammed Al Salhi.
However, the Saudi faded badly while Kuwait's Muhammad Al-Azemi found nothing once Kamel challenged him and the champion strode to the line winning easily.
China's three golds came all in women's events, with discus champion Song Aimin's winning throw longer than the silver medallist in the men's event.
They found a new Olympic hope in Xue Fei, who powered to the women's 5000 metres title aged just 17, out-running Japan's Kayo Sugihara and Jaisha Orchatteri of India.
Their other gold came through Xie Limei, who won the triple jump.
Kazakstan's star decathlete Dmitriy Karpov made up for the disappointment at being disqualified in the first event at last year's world championships by winning easily here, turning silver from last time in Busan into gold.
Meanwhile, Japan's Shingo Suetsugu easily retained his 200 metres title, while Saudi Arabia's Sultan Abdulmajeed Al Hebshi won the men's shot put in a new Asian Games record of 20.42 metres.
Nothing is impossible
If you keep hope, ALLAH makes a way
MashaALLAH
