MANAMA — Bahrain's Under-16 team Monday completed the semifinals cast in the Five-a-Side Futsal Championship, part of the First Bahrain Women's Games. Two deciding matches in Group ‘B' took place at Khalifa Sports City Gym, where the Bahraini youth captured a precious 5-0 win over European Academy to secure last seat in the semifinals. Zayneb Al-Qaydoom guided Bahrain to victory, scoring three of her team's five goals. Skipper Hessa Al-Zayyani and Amira Bader Swar were the other goal scorer for Bahrain. Bahrain, which recently returned from Amman where it made it to AFC Championship finals, finished on six points from three matches. They are in the final four along with Happy Feet, who topped the group with nine points. Happy Feet capped off the group stages with a third successive victory, this time beating Joga Bonito 2-0 also Monday night. Thuraya Al-Waary fired both the goals for Happy Feet. First she put her team ahead after 18 minutes, then doubled the advantage six minutes into the second-half. American Anastazia Salinas also played a major part in the team's victory with outstanding defensive and offensive skills. Joga Bonito, who headed into this game needing all three points to qualify, was handed its first defeat and finished third behind Bahrain with three points. Arsenal ‘Red' reached the semifinals defeating Arsenal ‘Yellow' 6-1. Title favorite Riffa, meanwhile, advanced beating Hamad Town 33-0. In the semifinals Group ‘A' winner Riffa faces Bahrain. This will be followed by Happy Feet vs Arsenal ‘Red'. The final will take place Wednesday at 7 p.m. It will be followed by a prize-giving ceremony and the Women's Games closing ceremony. Meanwhile, 57 athletes were in action on the track at St. Christopher's Junior School premises Saturday. The event got underway with Noor Abdulla of Rabaah Al-Adaweya School winning the shot put gold with a throw of 5.66m. She was followed by Maryam Adnan (4.90) of Al-Khansa'a School and Bayan Isa (4.77) of Hamad Town School. Amina Sultan jumped one meter to clinch the high jump gold. Ala'a Isa and Isra'a Abdulamir finished second and third, respectively. In javelin throw, Areej Aziz (34.29m) of Budaiya School notched victory ahead of Yathreb School's Zaynab Jassim (29.75) and Sharifa Anwar (18.86) of Budaiya School. Games are bring played in eight disciplines in the first edition of the Bahrain Women's Games, being organized by the Supreme Council for Women in co-operation with the Bahrain Olympic Committee. They are: volleyball, basketball, athletics, table tennis, bowling, shooting and sports for the disabled. – SG
