8 hours ago
Rakan Al Harith finishes creditable 7th at Asian Artistic Gymnastics
Tribune News Network
Jecheon (South Korea)
Qatar gymnast Rakan Al Harith concluded his campaign at the 12th Senior Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships by securing a creditable seventh place in the pommel horse final. The major continental event featured elite gymnasts from across Asia and the world, including Olympic champions and internationally ranked athletes.
Al Harith's placement among the top eight in Asia is considered a positive result, especially given the intense level of competition and the presence of some of the most decorated athletes from nations with strong gymnastics traditions.
He had earlier delivered an outstanding performance in the qualification round, scoring 13.566 points, composed of difficulty and execution scores, affirming his notable progress and underscoring the steady rise of Qatari gymnastics on the continental stage.
Qualifying for the final was a milestone in itself for Rakan, marking his first appearance in an Asian final. His advancement, achieved against some of the continent's and world's finest athletes, is a testament to both his personal growth and the strength of his performance under pressure.
Ali Al Hitmi, President of Qatar Gymnastics Federation, praised Rakan's strong showing at the championship. In a media statement, he described the achievement as a significant step in the federation's journey, reflecting the success of its long-term investment in national talent and technical infrastructure. Al Hitmi highlighted that Qatar's presence in such a high-profile competition—through a young gymnast securing a spot among Asia's top eight on the pommel horse—is a source of national pride.
Al Hitmi acknowledged that while the goal had shifted to competing for the title after qualifying for the final, finishing in the top eight in a debut appearance is, in itself, an achievement.
He expressed hope that this experience would serve as a foundation for further development and greater competitiveness in major regional, continental, and global championships.
He concluded by emphasizing that this accomplishment is the result of collective effort, reflecting the overall growth of gymnastics in Qatar and the strong support from the country's sports leadership.
He noted that having a Qatari athlete reach an Asian final of this caliber is a valuable gain for Qatari sport as a whole—and for gymnastics in particular.
