Another bronze medal was also won by the UAE lads in the team category on the final day of the 11th Pan Arab Games here on Saturday night.

An early show of power gave Abdul Hamid an exciting 4-1 victory over Saudi contender Abdul Aziz Al Abbad. But his hopes of making it to the final was dashed and forced to play for the minor places.

However, the UAE officials Ebrahim Abdul Malik, Abdul Malik Jani and Dr Mosa Abbas, praised their performance.

“I think finishing in the top three is not a bad result at all. We were watching them and they did fight to the utmost of their ability and determination,” said Ebrahim Abdul Malik, secretary general of the National Olympic Committee (NOC).

“I have been following the players and I believe we need to be patient and give them time and support to improve. Two bronze medals in the two individual and team event, is a good result considering the fierce competition they have met,” he added.

The UAE delegations were invited for a lunch reception yesterday by the UAE ambassador to Egypt.

 Obaid shines

The UAE athlete Ali Obaid finished third in the 400 metre hurdles to claim the only medal in the sport for his country.

“Winning a bronze medal competing against the African giants like Morocco, Sudan, Algeria and Tunisia is something great,” said the winner later.

In the 200-metre race, Omer Jumaa finished fourth, but registered a new UAE record of 20.94 seconds to the delight of his bosses. Jumaa has qualified for the Youth World Championship to be held in Sweden in June 2008.

“We must be fair. Jumaa ran the UAE’s fastest time in the 200 metres with an impressive time of 20.94. He finished ahead of many athletes of repute, including Sudan’s Najmuddin, a bronze medallist in the last year’s Youth World Championship and this is a very encouraging result,” said Rashid Al Jerbi, head of the UAE athletic delegation to the Games.

"The race produced some excellent times with four running under three minutes,” he said.

Jumaa said he felt the pressure as everyone expected him to reproduce his excellent form in the second heat.