Badwawi takes 11th spot in steeplechase

dubai — The UAE couldn’t add to their tally after the third day of the 22nd Asian Athletics Championship in Bhuvaneshwar, Orissa, India, on Saturday.

Long-distance runner Alia Saeed Mohammed had opened the UAE’s account on the opening day with a silver in the women’s 5000 metres but youngster Khalid Al Badwawi couldn’t follow in her footsteps.

The promising 18-year-old finished a disappointing 11th in the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase at the Kalinga Stadium. Al Badwawi clocked 9:53.65 seconds. Iran’s Hossein Keyhani won the race, clocking 8:43.82 seconds. Qatar’s Yaser Salem took the silver with a time of 8:46.16 seconds, while Saudi Arabia’s Ali Ahmad Al Amri won the bronze. He had a time of 8:52.64 seconds.

The humid conditions again meant that the long standing meet record of 8:16.00 seconds set by Qatar’s Khamis Saifeidin back in 2002 wasn’t threatened.

The race had begun with India’s Naveen Kumar, bronze medallist in the 2014 Asian Games, setting the early pace and led for most part of the race. But as is the norm, the chasing pack of Keyhani, Salem, Ali Ahmad Al Amri and Hashim Saleh swooped on Naveen and then pulled away.

Keyhani then made the push and nudged away to clinch the gold. Naveen eventually finished seventh with a time of 9:02.95 seconds.

Earlier, on the second day, Al Badwawi had also finished 11th in the men’s 5000 metres on Friday.

Meanwhile, Mayouf Mayouf and Saud Al Zaabi finished fourth and sixth respectively in their heats in the men’s 800 metres, while Ali Moosa Shaiba finished sixth in the heat i the men’s 100 metres, on the opening day.

India lead the medals tally with six gold medals, three silver and six bronze. China are second with four gold, three silver and three bronze medals. Iran are placed third with three gold medals and a bronze.

james@khaleejtimes.com