Kuwait wraps up Asian Games with nine medals

Kuwait flagbearer displays the national flag during the closing ceremony of the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

NAGOYA, Oct 4: Kuwait concluded its campaign at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya yesterday with a haul of nine medals — four gold, one silver and four bronze — as the continental sporting extravaganza came to a close in Japan.

The Games, which began on September 19 with 45 countries taking part, ended with Qatar receiving the Asian Olympic Council flag from Japan, officially beginning the countdown to Doha’s hosting of the 2030 Asian Games.

Kuwait sent 120 athletes to compete in 16 sports, including shooting, athletics, football, golf, modern pentathlon, fencing, teqball, sport climbing, karate, equestrian show jumping, squash, jiu-jitsu, swimming, handball, padel, and sailing.

Shooting and karate delivered Kuwait’s strongest results. Abdullah Shaaban struck gold in the men’s under-60kg karate kumite, while the men’s kata trio of Mohammed Hussein, Sayed Mohammed Al-Mousawi and Sayed Salman Al-Mousawi also claimed gold.

In shooting, the men’s trap team of Talal Al-Rashidi, Khaled Al-Mudhaf and Abdulrahman Al-Feihan secured gold, with Al-Mudhaf adding the individual trap title to complete Kuwait’s four gold medals.

The men’s skeet team of Abdullah Al-Rashidi, Mohammed Al-Daihani and Mohammed Al-Awad earned Kuwait’s only silver.

The four bronze medals came from Sayed Mohammed Al-Mousawi in individual kata, teqball pair Basil Ahmed and Abdulwahab Al-Qattan in men’s doubles, the women’s trap team of Hajar Abdulmalik, Sarah Al-Hawwal and Shahed Al-Hawwal, and Abdulmalik in the individual trap event.

Kuwait delegation chief and Kuwait Olympic Committee Director General, retired Major General Mohammed Saeed Al-Khalfan, hailed the team’s performance, expressing pride in the results achieved in Japan.

Al-Khalfan praised the athletes for their commitment and fighting spirit throughout the Games, saying they had represented Kuwait with distinction and raised the national flag on the Asian podium.

He also wished Kuwait’s athletes success in their upcoming competitions, reaffirming the Olympic Committee’s commitment to supporting national sporting talent and helping them achieve further success on the international stage.