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BAHRAINSPORTS DECEMBER 2013 BAHRAINIS AIM FOR ISLAMIC GAMES GLORY Text: JUAN DELA CRUZ Pictures: AHMAD AL OJAIMI T he Bahrain delegation at the third Islamic Solidarity Games attended the flag-hoisting ceremony at the third Islamic Solidarity Games in Palembang, Indonesia. Bahrain’s flag was hoisted as the national anthem was being played, marking the Bahraini delegation’s arrival for the event. The kingdom’s team is being headed by Bahrain Olympic Committee member Abdulhakim Al Shino. The flag hoisting ceremony was held by the tournament's organising committee and featured a speech by Ahmed Najib, the representative of South Sumatra province's assistant governor. Gifts and memorial trophies were also exchanged at the event. During his speech, Najib welcomed the Bahraini delegation and wished success to them and all the participant countries. To conclude on October 1, this 10day event is being organised under the slogan, "Unity and Harmony". The opening ceremony, meanwhile, got underway yesterday at the Jakabaring Sports Complex with around 1,759 athletes and 624 officials taking part. There are 13 sports that will be competed. The sports are athletics, aquatics swimming, archery, badminton, basketball, football, karate, taek- wondo, tennis, volleyball, volleyball beach, weightlifting and Wushu. Participating nations are Algeria, Azerbaijan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Indonesia, Guyana, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, the UAE and Malaysia. Bahrain is competing in three sporting disciplines – athletics, karate and taekwondo. The karate team will be the first to compete at the Games today, when the players will be divided into their respective weight categories. The Bahrain karate team had several training sessions since their arrival in Palembang. Being coached by Mohamed Larbi Boumezbeur, the team consists of Noora Ahmed, Mustafa Al Shaikh, Bashar Al Sanjar, Mohamed Al Shaikh and Sara Al Sabah. In athletics, triple-jumper Mohammed Yousef arrived at Palembang along with his coach Vladimir Brigadniy and administrators Saad Al Buainain, Mohammed Hassan and physiotherapist Eid Hassan and started his training programme.  PROUD REPRESENTATIVES The Bahrain parade at the opening ceremony in Palembang. sports magazine t h e g a m e 31