In the Mediterranean Games, Egypt expects more medals. Inas Mazhar reports Egypt has so far captured a highly respectable 21 medals in the Mediterranean Games, nine of them gold. More are supposedly on the way. Six medals have so far come from karate and swimming. Heba Salah thrilled the crowds in the Spanish resort of Almer�a when she claimed the first gold medal for Egypt in the two-week event. Salah's medal came in the 50kg weight event in karate. She beat Spain's Nathalia Garcia in the final 2-0. Two days later, teammate Mohamed El-Shimi won Egypt's second karate gold, in the 70kg category. Again, a Spaniard was on the losing end. Oscar Vàzquez was able to tie with a warning. In the tiebreak El-Shimi won by an ippon (one point). Mohamed Fathi won a bronze in the open karate weight category. Ahmed Hussein collected a silver in the 100 metres backstroke. Hussein had previously won two bronze in the 200 metre and 50 metre backstroke. Swimming saw two new Mediterranean records set. French Celine Couderc started the morning session in Las Almadrabillas Sports Centre by breaking the mark in the women's 100m freestyle with a time of 56.15. Algerian Nabil Keebbab broke the men's 100m freestyle record with a time of 49.80. Egypt's team sports lost everything but that came as no surprise since the squads had already predicted such failure, adding that they were in Spain to participate, not compete. Basketball lost its second game, 86-71 to hosts Spain. Earlier, Italy won 80- 50. A 72-71 win against Algeria did not make much difference. Handball also stumbled. Egypt lost its opener 24-22 to Croatia, the world's fourth ranked team. The victory came in the last minute of the game after Egypt missed a chance to draw at 23. In the next attack, Croatia punished Egypt, taking advantage of the lost opportunity to seal the victory and finish as group leaders. Two handballers were hospitalised as soon as the team arrived in Spain. Goalkeeper Mohamed El-Naqeeb was involved in a car accident as he was heading for Cairo Airport. He was later treated in Spain. Cuidad Real's Hussein Zaki, Egypt's superstar, fell sick while flying to Spain. His feet swelled and his temperature rose, to the bewilderment of the team physician. An ambulance was waiting for Zaki who was taken to intensive care. Zaki's Spanish club had offered to send a private plane to pick the player up from Almer�a for treatment. Zaki recovered and played against Croatia. El-Naqeeb, however, is not expected to play in the Games. Mohamed Abdel-Fattah, known as Boogie, who was disqualified from the Athens Olympics for dissent, made amends with a gold in Greco-Roman wrestling in 84kg. The big draw in wrestling was Athens gold medallist Karam Gaber. Gaber entertained the spectators in Almer�a as expected, claiming the gold in the 96kg weight category. Gaber had been warmly welcomed at the sports village in Almer�a and had been seen signing autographs and posing with those keen for a snap with the 'Mighty Egyptian'. Ashraf El-Gharabli added another gold in the 60kg weight Greco- Roman category. Mohamed Abou El-Alaa won a silver in a 55kg and Ahmed Salem claimed a silver in the 74kg weight category. Yasser Abdel-Rahman a bronze in the 120kg. Freestyle wrestler Hisham Ahmed won a gold in the 120kg, Mohamed Attia a bronze in the 84kg and Walid Abdel-Aal added another bronze in the 66kg. Female weightlifter Esmat Ahmed won a gold in the under 58kg weight category (jerk) and a silver in the (snatch). Heba Abdel-Rehim won a gold in the 63kg snatch and a silver in the jerk. Hussein Osman won a gold in the 77kg snatch and a bronze in the jerk. Weightlifters Nahla Ramadan and Mohamed Ihsan were forced to shed at least six kilogrammes each. Ramadan, a big bust in Athens, normally enters the 75kg weight category but was forced into the 70kg after her main event was cancelled when the number of participants was found to be less than the minimum required. Ihsan will compete in a lesser weight division for the same reason.
