KUWAIT bowlers lifted the youth title in the third Arab Bowling Championship being held at the Adhari Park bowling centre, writes Rami Hulayyel.
The three-member Kuwaiti team of Rakan Al Obaidli, Khalid Al Dybian and Khalid Al Hamdan finished on top with 904 points.
Saudi Arabia, who were represented by Faisal Al Juraifani, Fahad Al Juraifani and Ammar Tarrad, finished second with 801 points while Mohammed Merdash, Seif Elislam mand Ziad Anwar of Egypt were third with 796.
Bahrainis Yousif Al Awadhi, Abdulaziz Al Shaikh and Taha Ebrahim were not far behind as they managed 794 to take the fourth spot.
The UAE's Suhail Al Tamimi, Abdulla Al Mulla and Mohammed Saeed followed in fifth place totalling 751, while Iraq's Ghilmar Nasir, Hayder Ahmed and Wisam Layth were sixth with 711.
Kuwait were also dominant in the 'All Event' of the same age group winning the top three positions.
Al Obaidly finished first with the highest total of 3,937 and ahead of compatriots Abbas (3,902) and Al Dybian (3,626) who came second and third respectively.
Fourth was Saudi Arabia's Tarrad (3,625), followed by countryman Al Hamdan (3,555) in fifth place and Kuwait's Ali Khalid (2,538) sixth. Egypt's Ayman Hashim (3,495) was seventh while Ebrahim (3,420) of Bahrain clinched eighth position.
Meanwhile, Bahrain's rising bowler Yousif Falah will lead a strong field of eight bowlers in the quarter-finals of the men's singles today.
Falah, son of former national team star Mohammed Falah, remained ahead with a best total and average of 5,163 and 215.13.
Behind him is UAE's Shaker Al Hassan (5,092, 212.17) in second place. Kuwaiti bowler Basel Al Anzi (5,069, 211.21) is third.
Fourth is Mohammed Rajeeba (4,943, 205.96) of Kuwait, followed by Bahraini Osama Khalfan (4,918, 204.92) in fifth place and Saeed Obaid (4,752, 198.00) of the UAE sixth.
Egyptian contender Mohammed El Serafy (4,751, 197.96) is seventh and ahead of Khalil Akil (4,667, 194.6) of Jordan who rounded up the top eight in the quarter-finals.
Today's programme begins at 10am with the men's quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, each to be played in best-of-three format. It will be followed by the final of the singles and team youth section at 1pm.
An awarding ceremony will be held in the evening under the patronage of Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Nine countries - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and hosts Bahrain - are taking part in this prestigious eight-day event being organised by the Bahrain Bowling Association.
Competition is being held in seniors and youth categories with the team to win the highest number of gold medals at the end of the tournament will be crowned overall champions.
