Doha, May 19 (QNA) - President of the Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) Mohammed Issa Al Fadala, affirmed that the achievement secured at the 4th GCC Games Doha 2026, by being in the lead and winning 34 medals, including 12 gold, 13 silver and 9 bronze, was the result of coordinated work, tremendous effort, high professionalism, and careful planning by the federation during the period leading up to the Games held in Qatar.

In his remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Fadala said the goal was clear from the get-go: to secure the largest number of medals while ensuring athlete's safety and maintenance of their physical and mental readiness. He noted that this goal was achieved, with no members of the Qatari national team suffering muscle injuries during the Games.

He added that the focus of the Games was not on scores, but rather on winning a range of medals because of their significant value in such regional competitions.

The President of the Qatar Athletics Federation also addressed the strong competition among the participating national teams in general, especially between Qatari and Bahraini teams, for the gold medals. He noted that both teams won 12 gold medals each, highlighting the intensity of the competition, which was ultimately in Qatar’s favor because of the higher number of silver medals, giving the Qatari national team a slight edge. He explained that all participating athletics teams succeeded in winning medals of various colors, a testament to the high level of competition and the athletes' determination to excel in both field and track events.

Al Fadala praised the significant efforts made in organizing the Games, highlighting the meticulous and early preparations. He emphasized their commitment to upholding the highest organizational standards, which positively impacted the overall performance of the athletes from all participating teams. He added that they received numerous accolades in this regard.

The federation's president considered Qatar's topping the rank in the GCC Games clear evidence of sound planning and hard work, commending officials across the various sports federations participating in the Games.

Al Fadala also commended the significant efforts made by the clubs in preparing participating athletes, describing it as fruitful cooperation between the federation and the clubs.

He further praised the success of female athletes in winning numerous medals that boosted Qatar’s tally in the competition, highlighting in particular the women’s high jump medals won by Alaa Abdel Moneim and Salma Ahmed, which marked the first achievement of its kind in the history of the Qatari national team. He described the accomplishment as a major success, positively impacting the future of Qatari athletics.

The President of the Qatar Athletics Federation affirmed that Qatari athletics emerged from the Games with numerous gains, including valuable experience for several talented athletes, improved performances and records in races and competitions, and successful competitive exposure. He also highlighted the gold medal won by promising young athlete Mubarak Saeed in the 1500m race against strong competitors, along with Mohammed Jimmy in the discus throw competition. (QNA)