2016 Olympics: Arab nations leave without making an impression

Algeria's Taoufik Makhloufi celebrates winning the bronze in the Men's 1500m Final.

Eight out of the 22 Arab nations which took part in the Rio Olympics managed to claim podium places with the last medal coming in the form of silver from the wonderful running prowess of Taoufiq Makhloufi of Algeria, in the men's athletics 1,500m.
There were great expectations from some great champs like the Tunisians Oussama Mellouli and Habiba Ghribi but they disappointed midway through the Games. The 32-year old Mellouli, a five time Olympian, had won the 1,500m men's swimming title in Beijing 2008 and the 10-kilometre open water swimming crown in London in 2012. Habiba, the silver medallist from London, finished 12th in the final of the women's 3,000m steeplechase in Rio.
A total of 15 medals were won by the Arab contingents - three gold medals, four silver and eight bronze, including the gold medals won by Kuwait's independent entry Fehaid Aldeehani in the men's double trap shooting event, and the bronze clinched by his compatriot Abdullah Al Rashidi in the men's skeet shooting competition. Both men participated under the Olympic flag due to the suspension imposed on the Kuwait Olympic Committee. 
A total of 286 athletes from 22 Arab countries participated in Rio, the largest ever in the history of the Olympics. Bahrain led in the medals' race among the Arabs with Ruth Jebet winning gold in the women's 3,000 metre steeplechase and Eunice Kirwa clinching silver in the women's marathon.
Jordan had to thank Ahmed Abughaush who won gold in taekwondo, while Algeria got a silver from the dependable Taoufik Makhloufi in the men's 800m run. Qatar's Olympic champion Mutaz Barsham won silver in the men's high jump.
Egypt's Hedaya Wahba won the bronze in women's taekwondo -57kg category, while her compatriots Mohammed Ehab and Sarah Samir took bronze in weightlifting. Tunisia's bronze medals came from Ines Boubakri in women's fencing, and teammate Marwa Amri earned Tunisia's first medal in women's wrestling.
The 13-member UAE contingent and Morocco were way down the medals list with a bronze each. The UAE's Sergio Toma fought tenaciously in the men's under 81 kg judo competition for his third place finish while Morocco's Mohammed Rabii won a boxing bronze in the 69-kg class.
moni@khaleejtimes.com