Bahrain Women's games Update

MANAMA yesterday (TUESDAY) made to the final of the Bahrain Women's Games Basketball Championship, being held at the Bahrain Disabled Sports Federation gym at Shaikh Isa Sports City in Riffa.

A 66-46 come-from-behind win over Al Hidd saw Manama girls keep their title dreams as they set up a mouth-watering final against arch rivals Muharraq tonight (WEDNESDAY).

Muharraq, the No. 1 title contenders, made it earlier to the final following a comfortable 81-30 win over Al Najma in the other semi-final tie on Monday.

Al Najma will take on Al Hidd today on the concluding day of the tournament at 5pm, to be followed by the title match between Muharraq and Manama at 7pm.

Yesterday's game was the second meeting between the two teams, with Manama winning the first clash 61-43 during the group stages.

This proved crucial as Manama headed into yesterday's game with high confidence. They played with composure right from the start and never looked behind for a well-earned victory.

Though it was Al Hidd who started the game well, going up 15-12 in the 10-minute first quarter.

Manama gradually came back into the game and were able to take over the lead 32-26 at the break.

Later in the match, Manama maintained momentum as they dominated the third quarter where they scored 20 points against Al Hidd's three, as the latter cruised ahead to a 23-point lead.

The fourth and final quarter featured a neck-and-neck play as Al Hidd put on a splendid performance to, but could only reduce the deficit to 20 points.

Spearheading Manama, coached by Fadel Milad, were some of Bahrain's rising basketball talents.

They were Reem Al Sha'alan, Hessa Ahmed, Fatma Abdulelah, Seema Ali, Maryam Mirza, Hanin Abdulaziz, Khawla Salem, Noora Al Shaikh, Iman Hani, Dalya Abdulla and Latifa Abdulla.

Al Hidd's coach Hamad Ismail, on the other hand, was banking on a group of prominent players, including Zahra Torani, Maryam Nasser, Yaqeen Ashraf and Wasan Nabeel.

The team also comprises Hessa Fareed, Noora Salem, Sumaya Naeem, Maryam Fareed, Thajba Ebrahim, Dana Khalid, Mai Yaqoub and Fatma Mohammed.

There are eight sporting tournaments in total during this first-ever Bahrain Women's Games.

The annual Bahrain Women's Day is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of Bahraini women in the sporting arena.

Other events organised during the Games are futsal, volleyball, table tennis, bowling shooting, athletics and disabled sports.

It's being held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad and Supreme Council for Women President.

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