By Sports Reporter/Doha


Hosts Qatar opened their medal tally at the 2nd GCC Beach Games yesterday when Ali Juma Hassan Abujul won the bronze in men’s single 500-metre rowing competition.
At Katara Beach, Abujul came third in 2:23.29 seconds in tough conditions. UAE’s Hamad Saeed won the gold as he touched the shores in 2:14.41 seconds, ahead of Kuwait’s Mohamed al-Sabti, who timed 2:20.06. On Friday, Sabti had won the gold with his countryman Mohamed Burabei in the men’s team competition.
Meanwhile in the handball event being held at Al Gharafa Club in Doha, Qatar’s handball team were once again impressive as they won both their matches yesterday.
In a nail-biting first match, the hosts beat Bahrain 7-6 in the shootout after both the teams had ended the regulation time 29-29. For Qatar, Ali Ahmed Mohamed was the top-scorer with 11 points while Mohamed Ahmed Hassan notched 10 points. Bahrain’s charge was spearheaded  by Mohamed Ali Mahdi, who scored 10 points, while Mohamed Ali Makki contributed 8 points.
In the day’s second match, Qatar swept aside 34-26, making it certain they would clinch gold. It was once again Ali Ahmed Mohamed who starred for Qatar by scoring 10 points. Anis Abdul Razak was the next best with 8 points. The home side showed their opponents why they are a dominating force in the sport in the region, leading the battle right from the beginning.
After three matches, Qatar have a maximum six points, with Oman on two points and Bahrain yet to open their account. Today, Qatar will play Bahrain in their last league match.
In the volleyball competition at the Gharafa court, the Qatar ‘B’ team comprising Abdelaziz Khallouf and Tamer Abdelrasoul lost to Oman ‘A’ of Badr and Mazin in their group match to set up an all-Qatar semi-final against Qatar ‘A’.
Qatar coach Pedro Paulo Costa was disappointed after Qatar B’s loss against Oman A, as they failed to finish at the top of the group.
“It was a disappointing match for me as we lost the opportunity of an all-Qatar final,” he said. “Khallouf and Abdelrasoul have the potential to beat Oman A, but unfortunately they couldn’t produce their best against the Omanis today,” Costa added.
Khallouf echoed his coach’s opinion as he admitted that they were not up to their potential best in the all-important match against the Omanis. “It didn’t go according to plan. I am really disappointed not to finish at the top of our group as we failed to beat Badr and Mazin.
“I know they are a tough pair to beat but I think if we would have played to our potential we would have avoided playing against our team in the semi-finals,” Khallouf said.
Qatar ‘B’ finished their group outings with a fine victory over Ali Hamz-Rida and Abd Hussain of Bahrain ‘B’ 21-16, 21-9. Khallouf and Tamer Abdelrasoul will meet Qatar A’s Jefferson Pereira and Cherif Younousse in the semi-final today.
“The best part is that both our teams are in the semi-finals and we are assured of a podium finish at least,” Khallouf said.
In the football event, Qatar lost to Bahrain 2-1. Rasheed and Thani scored for the visitors while Jafal scored for the hosts. In an earlier match, Kuwait lost to UAE 1-4.
Over 300 athletes from across the GCC are participating in the 2nd GCC Beach Games, which consists of 13 competitions across seven sporting disciplines. The event will conclude on April 9.
The multi-purpose complex at Al Gharafa Sports Club is hosting the volleyball, handball, football and 3x3 basketball events, while Katara Cultural Village, situated on Doha’s Corniche, is conducting open water swimming, rowing, sailing and air sports.
The concept of a Beach Games was created by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) with the staging of the first-ever Asian Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia, in 2008, and is seen as a pioneer in bringing new sports to the sand.