GCC

Shaker Al-Hassan (l.), UAE, defeated Saeed Al-Hajri (r.), Qatar, in the championship match at Adhari Bowling Center in Manama, Bahrain, 194-180, to win the inaugural GCC Ranking Championship. Al-Hassan, who captured the No. 1 seed for the 3-palyer stepladder finals with a 289 in the 16th and last game of the preliminaries, had to sit and wait for the winner of the opening match between No. 3 seeded Al-Hajri and compatriot Naif Oqab. The Qatari, who won the Bahrain Open from top seed just two days ago, sidelined Oqab, 210-187.

By clinching 4 gold medals out of the six at stake, Kuwait easily ruled the 9th GCC Championship 2008 to lift the overall championship trophy of the tenpin bowling event held at the COZMO Bowling Center in Salmiya. Emerging as shining stars for the host country after dishing out equally impressive performance were youthful Jassem Darwish, who garnered 3 gold medals, and the World Championship bronze medalist Basil Al-Anzi, who collected 2 gold medals.

The 9th GCC Men's Bowling Championship itook place at Cozmo Bowling Center in Salmiya City, Kuwait. from Oct. 24 through 31, 2008. 30 players from the Arabian Gulf States competed for gold, silver and bronze medals in Singles, Doubles, Trios, Team, All Events and Masters on short and long oil condition, respectively. Kuwait swept the medals in Singles, Bahrain won gold in Doubles. Kuwait captured the title in Trios, while Qatar won the coveted Team gold. In an all-Kuwaiti affair, Basil Al-Anzi defeated All Events champion Jassem Darwish, 2-0, to win the Masters title.