RIYADH: The Saudi Games 2022, the largest national sporting event in the history of the Kingdom, kicked off on Thursday morning. The capital, Riyadh, will host the competition until Nov. 7 at 20 locations.
The women’s 48 kg weightlifting competitions, and men’s 61 kg, were staged in the Riyadh Club hall.
Rahma Al-Khawaher won the gold in the 49 kg weight category with a total of 117 kg, followed by Marie Al-Sihati in second place with a total of 115 kg. Munira Al-Ruwaita achieved third place with a weight of 109 kg. The winners were presented with their medals by Princess Dalil bint Nahar Al-Saud, deputy director of the Saudi Games.
In the men’s competition, Siraj Al-Saleem won the gold medal in the 61 kg division with a total of 271 kg, followed by his brother Mansour Al-Saleem with a total of 249 kg, and Jassem Al-Zouri was in third place with a total of 239 kg. The winners were awarded their medals by Muhammad bin Ahmed Al-Harbi, president of the Saudi Weightlifting Federation.
The camel race competitions hosted by Ramah Camel Field were concluded on Thursday, where the Bakkar Marathon and the Qaadan Marathon will also be held. The race resulted in the coach, Nayef Salim Al-Juhani, winning first place with Al-Matiyah Al-Juri and the gold medal for the Thanaya Bakkar Marathon. Bassam Al-Hwaiti won third place and the bronze medal. The coach Suleiman Abdullah Al-Hwaiti won the Thanaya Qaadan Marathon, achieving first place and the gold medal. Coach Ahmed Al-Hwaiti won the silver medal and coach Eid Al-Juhani won the bronze medal. The winners were crowned by Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Balawi, vice president of the Saudi Camel Federation.
In the men’s basketball competitions hosted by the Green Hall at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex, Al-Fateh team achieved third place and the bronze medal after winning the match against Al-Wehda with a score of 88-67. The final match was between Uhud and Al-Ittihad — the winner was Uhud by 79-65.
On Thursday, the goal ball competitions for people with disabilities began, hosted by the Saudi Paralympic Committee in the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex. Al-Rass beat Hail with a score of 12-2, Asir and Al-Qassim had a 4-4 draw, Riyadh beat Taif with a score of 11-3, Al-Baha won over Al-Jawf with a score of 10-0, Asir won over Hail with a score of 9-1, and Al-Rass won over Al-Qassim with a score of 12-2.
In the futsal competitions, hosted by Al-Nasr Club, four matches were held on Wednesday. In the men’s competitions, the results were: Al-Qadisiyah tied 5-5 with Riyadh, Al-Nasr Club beat Al-Ula Club with a score of 2-1, Al-Aardh team achieved a 11-2 victory over the Al-Majd team, and the Al-Itiifaq team defeated Al-Sir 6-1.
In the women’s competitions, the Al-Shabab team beat El-Himma by 10-1, and the Yamama team beat Al-Ahly 8-0.
The handball competitions at King Saud University arena on Thursday saw the Al-Safa team beat Al-Khuwaildia with a score of 44-29, and Al-Nour won against Al-Adalah with a score of 44-24.
In the King Saud University hall, judo competitions for men in the under 60 kg, under 66 kg, under 73 kg, under 90 kg and 90 + kg divisions were held on Thursday.
On Friday, the women’s basketball competitions begin at the Al-Hilal Club hall — four matches will be held between Riyadh and Jeddah United, Al-Shula and Al-Nasr, Abha and Al-Ittihad, Al-Wahda and Al-Hilal — and golf competitions will be held at the Riyadh Golf Club. Indoor rowing competitions will be staged at the Leaders Preparation Institute at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex.
Weightlifting competitions will continue at Riyadh Club on Friday with the 59 kg competitions for women and 73 kg contests for men. Also to be held will be the group stage competitions and quarter-final competitions in the padel, judo competitions for women in the 63 kg weight division, and handball competitions in three matches between Mudar and Hira, Al-Khaleej and Al-Huda, and Zalqi. Al-Rawda, and the first-round matches of the goal ball with four matches between Al-Jawf and Al-Taif, Al-Baha and Riyadh, Al-Qassim and Hail, Al-Rass and Asir will be held.
The Saudi Games competitions will continue until Nov. 7, with the participation of more than 6,000 male and female players competing in 45 sports, including five Paralympic sports.