MANAMA, MAR. 29, (BNA)-- DEPUTY OF HIS MAJESTY THE KING AND CROWN PRINCE SHAIKH SALMAN BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA DEPUTISED HIS SON SHAIKH MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA TO OPEN BAHRAIN SECOND OPEN TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIP ORGANISED BY BAHRAIN MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATION (BMAA) AT THE JUFFAIR YOUTH CENTRE.

PRESENT AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WERE GENERAL ORGANIZATION OF YOUTH AND SPORTS (GOYS) PRESIDENT SHAIKH FAWAZ BIN MOHAMMED AL KHALIFA, BMAA PRESIDENT SHAIKH MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN AL KHALIFA AND HEADS OF THE PARTCIPATING TEAMS AND DELEGATIONS.

CHAMPIONSHIP DIRECTOR SHAIKH KHALID BIN ISA AL KHALIFA DELIVERED A SPEECH IN WHICH HE EXTENDED THANKS TO THE CROWN PRINCE FOR PATRONIZING THE EVENT AND THE SPONSORING COMPANIES WHOSE SUPPORT GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN WHICH AROUND 450 PLAYERS ARE TAKING PART.

AT THE END OF THE CEREMONY, SHAIKH MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA HONOURED THE WINNERS FROM ALL CATEGORIES AND LAUDED THE GOOD ORGANIZATION OF THE EVENT WHICH PROVED A SUCCESS IN VIEW OF THE LARGE ARAB AND INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION.

HE ALSO HAILED THE EFFORTS EXERTED BY BMAA IN ORGANISING SUCH EVENTS AND ENABLING BAHRAINI PLAYERS TO ACHIEVE GOOD RESULTS IN MARTIAL ARTS CONTESTS AT HOME AND ABROAD, WISHING THE ASSOCIATION AND THE CHAMPIONSHIP FURTHER SUCCESS.

HMQ 29-MAR-2008 23:38