São Paulo – The Arab countries that competed in the Tokyo Olympics won five gold, five silver and eight bronze medals, in a total of 18, according to the competition’s official table. The accomplishments came from Qatar, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Syria. The schedule started officially on July 23 and ended this Sunday (8).
Qatar was the top-ranked Arab country in the games, with three medals, including two gold and one bronze. They were the first two Olympic gold medals in Qatar’s history. Athlete Fares Ibrahim El-Bakh won gold in men’s 96kg weightlifting and Mutaz Essa Barshim in the high jump.
Qatar’s bronze medal came from men’s beach volleyball. On Friday (6), Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan defeated the Latvian duo Martin Plavins and Edgar Tocs. The performance of the Qatari team was astonishing. The Latvians had eliminated the Brazilian duo Alison and Álvaro from the competition.
The second best-placed Arab country in Tokyo was Egypt, with six medals, one gold, one silver, and four bronze. The Egyptian gold came from women’s Karate Kumite, with athlete Feryal Abdelaziz (opening picture), in the over 61 kg category. Ahmed Elgendy won silver in the modern pentathlon. Giana Lotfy won bronze in women’s under 61kg Kumite, Seif Eissa in men’s 80 kg taekwondo, Hedaya Malak in women’s 67 kg taekwondo, and Mohamed Ibrahim Elsayed in men’s 67 kg wrestling. Egypt was ranked 54th in the games.
Tunisia was the third best-ranked Arab country in Tokyo, in 58th. The country earned two medals, one gold, and one silver. The gold came from Ahmed Hafnaoui, in men’s 400 m freestyle swimming. Athlete Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi earned silver for Tunisia in men’s 58 kg taekwondo.
Morocco came 63rd with a gold medal in men’s 3,000 m hurdles in athletics by Soufiane El Bakkali. Jordan took 74th place with one silver by Saleh Elsharabaty in men’s 80 kg taekwondo and a bronze by Abdel Rahman Almasatfa in men’s 67 kg Kumite.
Bahrain finished 77th with one silver by Kalkidan Gezahegne in women’s 10,000 m athletics. Saudi Arabia reached the same position as Bahrain, with a silver medal from Tareq Hamedi in men’s over 75kg Kumite.
Kuwait came 86th, with a bronze from Abdullah Alrashidi in men’s shooting. Syria, also in 86th place, earned a bronze medal with athlete Man Asaad in men’s over 109kg weightlifting.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
