Ambassador Al-Hazeem with the Kuwaiti gymnasts.

GUIMARES, Portugal,  Nov 11, (KUNA): Kuwaiti female gymnasts showcased impressive performances at the three-day Guimagym Cup 2024, an international rhythmic gymnastics tournament in Guimaraes, Portugal, which featured over 200 participants from nine countries.

Five Kuwaiti gymnasts, aged 10 to 13, brought home medals in their respective age groups at the tournament, which concluded on Sunday. Coach Iryna Kovalchuk expressed pride in her team’s achievements, highlighting their dedication and accomplishments.

Layan Behbehani, 13, won three bronze medals in the hoop, ribbon, and club events. Sarah Al-Bannai, 12, claimed gold in the ball competition and a silver in the hoop. Nabila Al-Kharafi, 11, earned two golds in the ball and clubs events. Raya Al-Qassar, also 11, secured a silver in clubs and a bronze in ball, while Talia Behbehani, 10, won two golds in the freehand and ball categories.

Coach Kovalchuk, who has led the team since 2020, praised the athletes’ commitment and noted their intensive training, which included a specialized camp in Baku, Azerbaijan. The team follows a demanding regimen of four hours of daily training, extending to seven hours during competition preparation.

Kuwait’s Ambassador to Portugal, Hamad Al-Hazeem, congratulated the gymnasts, reaffirming Kuwait’s commitment to supporting its athletes abroad. He emphasized that this support aligns with the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya.

Ambassador Al-Hazeem, who accompanied the Kuwaiti delegation, highlighted that sports diplomacy is a key aspect of Kuwait’s international efforts, promoting cultural exchange, tolerance, and cooperation among nations, and enhancing bilateral relations.

The Guimagym Cup 2024 featured competitors from Kuwait, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, France, Georgia, Greece, Norway, and Switzerland.