Tokyo 2020 gives Arab nations highest-ever medal haul of 18

Egypt鈥檚 Ahmed Elgendy picked up a silver in the men鈥檚 modern pentathlon. (AFP)
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  • The tally of five gold, five silver and eight bronze medals beat the previous total of eight at Athens 2004

DUBAI: Arab athletes have departed Tokyo 2020 with the highest yield of medals in the history of their participation, winning five gold, five silver and eight bronze.

The previous combined best by Arab nations was eight at the 2004 Athens Olympics, with four gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

In Japan, Qatar was the only one of the Arab delegation to win two gold medals, while Egypt鈥檚 total of six was the highest with one gold, one silver and four bronze.

The penultimate day of Tokyo 2020 proved particularly fruitful for the region with Feryal Abdelaziz of Egypt winning a gold in the women鈥檚 karate competition; Tarek Hamdi of Saudi a silver in the men鈥檚 karate; Bahrain鈥檚 Kalkidan Gezahegne a silver in the women鈥檚 10,000m; Egypt鈥檚 Ahmed Elgendy a silver in the men鈥檚 modern pentathlon; and Qataris Cherif Samba and Ahmed Tijan a bronze in the men鈥檚 beach volleyball competition.

The previous day had seen Egypt鈥檚 Giana Lotfy win bronze despite losing her women鈥檚 kumite -61kg class semifinal. Abdul Rahman Al-Masatfa has similarly claimed bronze after being eliminated in his last four bouts in the men鈥檚 karate kumite 67kg competition.

Egypt leads Arab nations in the all-time gold medal table with eight, with Morocco coming next with seven.