The Game! December 2013 | Page 36

BAHRAINSPORTS DECEMBER 2013 CHAMPIONS Above, Bahrain junior volleyball team on arrival from Riyadh. TEAMS BACK WITH GLORY Text: JUAN DELA CRUZ Pictures: AHMAD AL OJAIMI B winners&achievers ahrain’s junior volleyball and national table tennis teams were given a warm welcome on return from their respective competitions held recently. The under-17 volleyball team was crowned champions of the GCC Championship in Riyadh where they clinched victories in all their five matches. In this single round robin event, the Bahrainis proved the strongest side in the tournament as they never lost a game, and they capped it with a straight set 3-0 victory over 34 hosts Saudi Arabia in the deciding game on the concluding day. The volleyball team were received on arrival by highranking sports officials, including Bahrain Olympic Committee’s women’s committee chairwoman Shaikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa and Bahrain Volleyball Association president Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa. Early on, the table tennis delegation had a similar reception ceremony as they returned from Jeddah where they Sarkoob triumphs RFC gallant stand THE Ecco Monday Stableford Series at the Royal Golf Club came to an end for quarter three with Sassan Sarkoob enjoying a comfortable win in the Order of Merit. Sarkoob finished with 26 points overall – his nearest rival was Ali Jassim who came second on 16 points. Royal Golf Club Golf Operations Manager Cormac Flannery took third place overall with 16 points. The new Ecco Monday Stableford Series will be held on 7th October and will run until the end of December. To book your place in next Monday’s event, call +973 17750777. BAHRAIN Rugby Football Club’s (RFC) first XV got their season underway yesterday afternoon as they entertained reigning Gulf Top Six champions Abu Dhabi Harlequins at their home ground in Saar. Although the home side finished on the bad end of a 19-12 loss, there were plenty of positives to take from the game ahead of the start of the Gulf Conference against Doha next weekend. In fact, Bahrain dominated proceedings for the majority of the first half. t h e g a m e sports magazine 5 Sarkoob, left, with Chris McDonnell, Royal Golf Club PGA Professional.