MUSCAT, May 8 - Oman’s young sprinter Ali bin Anwar al Balushi bagged the bronze medal in 200 metre sprint at the World Gymnasium Schools Championship which was held in Morocco from May 2 to 9. As many as 50 countries are taking part in this championship. The Sultanate’s sprinter finished third with a personal record timing of 21.72 seconds while Chinese Taipei’s Hu Yasseening finished at the top spot. Brazilian sprinter Lucas Filler claimed the silver medal in a time of 21.70 seconds. “Ali clinched the bronze medal as he finished all the pre-qualifications in top spot to qualify for the finals. Ali’s record in the qualifications was 21.75 seconds and in the finals he finished 200 metres in a 21.72 seconds,” Fahad al Mashakik, head coach of Oman School Sports Association for Athletics, said.
“We have confidence in our new champion Ali al Balushi to register some new triumphs for Oman in the coming participation. He achieved bronze medal in a 4x400 metre relay team at his last participation at the Arabian Juniors Athletics championship in Jordan,” Fahad added. “I am very proud with my new achievement at World Gymnasium Schools Championship. It was not an easy assignment and the competitions were very tough between the sprinters. “I claimed the bronze medal and I was very close to clinching the silver medal as few seconds were the difference between me and the silver medal winner,” Ali al Balushi said.
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