1-15 December 2006
News
Daily Summaries
15 December – Day 15
Up in the air; Qatar's match winner Bilai gets that walking on air feeling after the gold medal game
A time of closure
Just four events remained as day 15 of the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 dawned. The final day of a Games that has truly lived up to its billing as the Games of your Life.
Two basketball matches remained to close off the indoor programme, the bronze medal clash between Jordan and IR Iran and the gold medal game that pitted host Qatar against Games’ giants China. Then outdoors it was the one that the home fans had been waiting for – Iraq against Qatar in the football final.
In the first basketball game IR Iran looked to have wrapped up the whole thing after the first two quarters, leading by ten points and jumping all over their rivals. Then Jordan decided to wake up and get going. In the third quarter they drew level with a 24–24 session and improved on that in the last portion of the game by winning the session 22–17.
Comeback of the Games it might have been, but it was not quite enough. The margin remained around 10 points until the final minute, Jordan simply unable to pull off what would have ranked among the greatest comebacks of all time, leaving their players and fans exhausted and distraught at the final buzzer.
Bronze then to a relieved IR Iran and a closing of the tournament for Jordan with a blank. They finish 25th on the medals table, IR Iran a resounding sixth.
In the gold match Qatar were perhaps surprising participants, but their players looked strong and accurate during their preliminary and qualifying games, but could they live with the giants of the game, China?
As it happened, they could, apart from the skills of one man; the 7ft tall Wang Zhizhi. Wang netted virtually half China’s 59 points in the 59–44 defeat of the host nation.
China stormed into a five point lead in the first quarter, 20–15and in a low scoring second, went further ahead 14-10, making the total 34–25.
But in the third quarter, with the partisan crown urging them on, Qatar fought back and won the session 13–14. But then the big boys in white and red turned on the power, blitzing Qatar 12–5.
China lifted their 165th gold medal to close out a dominating performance at these Asian Games.
One down and one to go for the hosts.
Up in the air; Qatar's match winner Bilai gets that walking on air feeling after the gold medal gameJust four events remained as day 15 of the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 dawned. The final day of a Games that has truly lived up to its billing as the Games of your Life.
Two basketball matches remained to close off the indoor programme, the bronze medal clash between Jordan and IR Iran and the gold medal game that pitted host Qatar against Games’ giants China. Then outdoors it was the one that the home fans had been waiting for – Iraq against Qatar in the football final.
In the first basketball game IR Iran looked to have wrapped up the whole thing after the first two quarters, leading by ten points and jumping all over their rivals. Then Jordan decided to wake up and get going. In the third quarter they drew level with a 24–24 session and improved on that in the last portion of the game by winning the session 22–17.
Comeback of the Games it might have been, but it was not quite enough. The margin remained around 10 points until the final minute, Jordan simply unable to pull off what would have ranked among the greatest comebacks of all time, leaving their players and fans exhausted and distraught at the final buzzer.
Bronze then to a relieved IR Iran and a closing of the tournament for Jordan with a blank. They finish 25th on the medals table, IR Iran a resounding sixth.
In the gold match Qatar were perhaps surprising participants, but their players looked strong and accurate during their preliminary and qualifying games, but could they live with the giants of the game, China?
As it happened, they could, apart from the skills of one man; the 7ft tall Wang Zhizhi. Wang netted virtually half China’s 59 points in the 59–44 defeat of the host nation.
China stormed into a five point lead in the first quarter, 20–15and in a low scoring second, went further ahead 14-10, making the total 34–25.
But in the third quarter, with the partisan crown urging them on, Qatar fought back and won the session 13–14. But then the big boys in white and red turned on the power, blitzing Qatar 12–5.
China lifted their 165th gold medal to close out a dominating performance at these Asian Games.
One down and one to go for the hosts.
At 16:00 the gates closed on a packed Al-Sadd stadium, resounding to the shouts, chants and drums of a highly charged Qatari crowd.
They saw the boys in maroon and the boys in green play a fast but initially un-productive game where nerves in front of goal played a major part.
Good goalkeeping and some poor finishing meant that the score sheet was blank at half time, though both sides had come close.
The second half continued with some fast and frenetic play at times leaving maroon-clad or green-clad bodies writhing on the ground. The game was fast approaching full time and frustration was beginning to show on both sides, but then one of those golden moments came to Qatar.
Qatar's fourth corner of the match was flicked on at the near post and Iraq’s goalkeeper Mohammed Khadum managed to get a glove on the ball. But that glove only deflected the ball as far as Bilal Rajab who was in the right place to head past Khadum from four yards out.
Moments later the ball was in the Iraq net again, but an offside flag ruled that one would never make the score sheet.
The match closed with just that single goal separating the teams and the athletic side of the Games came to its close.
Fifteen days of some of the best athletes in the world, not just Asia, competing in sports as diverse as chess and wrestling, with everything from archery to equestrian endurance in between.
All that remained was the final act, the Closing Ceremony.
If the Opening Ceremony was anything to go by, the Closing Ceremony was going to be something special. The sell-out crowd was not disappointed.
A fabulous tale from the One Thousand and One Nights, incredible aerial acts, flying carpets, a sky-born fleet of ships, all cumulating in the most incredible fireworks display; it was a closing to remember all your life.
Doha’s Games came to a spectacular finish as the baton – or rather the Torch and the Games Flag – were handed to the next hosts, China’s Guangzhou.
The 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 has closed its doors, but the memories will remain open for ever.
They saw the boys in maroon and the boys in green play a fast but initially un-productive game where nerves in front of goal played a major part.
Good goalkeeping and some poor finishing meant that the score sheet was blank at half time, though both sides had come close.
The second half continued with some fast and frenetic play at times leaving maroon-clad or green-clad bodies writhing on the ground. The game was fast approaching full time and frustration was beginning to show on both sides, but then one of those golden moments came to Qatar.
Qatar's fourth corner of the match was flicked on at the near post and Iraq’s goalkeeper Mohammed Khadum managed to get a glove on the ball. But that glove only deflected the ball as far as Bilal Rajab who was in the right place to head past Khadum from four yards out.
Moments later the ball was in the Iraq net again, but an offside flag ruled that one would never make the score sheet.
The match closed with just that single goal separating the teams and the athletic side of the Games came to its close.
Fifteen days of some of the best athletes in the world, not just Asia, competing in sports as diverse as chess and wrestling, with everything from archery to equestrian endurance in between.
All that remained was the final act, the Closing Ceremony.
If the Opening Ceremony was anything to go by, the Closing Ceremony was going to be something special. The sell-out crowd was not disappointed.
A fabulous tale from the One Thousand and One Nights, incredible aerial acts, flying carpets, a sky-born fleet of ships, all cumulating in the most incredible fireworks display; it was a closing to remember all your life.
Doha’s Games came to a spectacular finish as the baton – or rather the Torch and the Games Flag – were handed to the next hosts, China’s Guangzhou.
The 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 has closed its doors, but the memories will remain open for ever.
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We are keen that the flame which we extinguish tonight will continue to glow in our heart
