double golden delight

BAHRAIN is celebrating double golden delight after its adopted son and daughter - Yusuf Saad Kamel and Maryam Jamal - strode to victory in the 12th World Athletic championships.

Kamel upset the favourites in the men's 1,500 metres with a last-gasp dash to win the world championship and Natalia Rodriguez of Spain was disqualified for tripping favourite Gelete Burka in a hectic finish to the women's 1,500 metres, giving defending champion Jamal the gold medal.

Kenyan-born Kamel was in the pack until the last 70 metres when he forced his way past Ethiopian Deresse Mekonnen to finish with a time of 3:35.93.

Kamel, 26, is son of former twice 800 metres world champion Billy Konchellah. He was delighted to win his first major title and said: "Nobody expected it but in the last 400 metres I already knew I am going to win. This was the moment I was looking for."

Kamel changed his nationality in 2003 but spent much of this season trying to return to Kenya, though he has been quick to point out that any problems with his adoptive country had been ironed out. "I have sorted out things with

Yusuf Saad Kamel dedicated his medal to His Majesty King Hamad and the Bahraini people for their support.

Kamel and Maryam Jamal's success has helped remove the cloud hovering over athletics in the kingdom following the disgrace of their Moroccan-born team-mate Rashid Ramzi, a former double gold championship winner, who was found to have cheated his way to victory in the Olympics after drug testing.

Although Rodriguez was first to cross the finish line the race referee scratched her from the results for pushing aside Burka with 200 metres to go. Rodriguez had finished in a season's best 4 minutes, 3.36 seconds, beating Jamal by .38.

Jamal, 25, who was born in Ethiopia, said: "The fall changed the whole dynamics of the race but I used my experience to get through it. The key is to react really quickly to get back into the race."

Jamal and Kamel are training partners, and their coach is Maryam's husband Tareq Sabt who said that both athletes have expressed their desire to add to their world championship victories with gold medals at the next Olympic Games in London in 2012.

Mohammed Ali Abul, secretary general assistant of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, said: "I am very pleased with Maryam and Kamel's wins. 'Mabrook' to the both of them. By getting these medals they have shown the world their capabilities and promise to come.

For Yusuf Saad Kamel in particular I am delighted he has taken gold after so many times taking either second or third place.

"I am also very happy for Maryam. She did very well and although was quite lucky with the win I truly believe she deserved it.

"Everyone from the association is more than thrilled with these great results and for what these tremendous athletes have achieved."