Manama: His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Prime Minister, received congratulations from Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF), following the BDF military athletics team's achievement at the 5th CISM Military World Winter Games.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the BDF team secured three gold medals and one bronze during the championship, which took place in Switzerland on March 26 and 27, 2025. The event witnessed participation from 205 athletes representing 34 countries. The Commander-in-Chief attributed this success to the unwavering support from His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. He also highlighted the commitment of the BDF General Command to military sports, which significantly contributed to the team's outstanding performance.
The Commander-in-Chief praised the BDF Military Sports Council for its role in preparing the team to achieve a high level of competitiveness. In the women's 8 km cross-country event, the BDF women's team excelled by securing first place in both the individual and team categories. Winfred Yavi clinched the gold medal, with France's Manon Trapp and Bahrain's Violah Jepchumba finishing second and third, respectively. The team topped the standings with 11 points, outperforming France and Tanzania.
In the men's 10 km cross-country race, Albert Rop won gold for the BDF in the individual category. He was followed by Tanzania's Joseph Banga and France's Badrani Djilali. The team results saw Tanzania and France both scoring 19 points, with Tanzania taking first place on countback. The BDF men's team secured the bronze medal with 23 points.
The BDF also triumphed in the mixed relay event, with a team comprising Albert Rop, Nelly Korir, Birhanu Balew, and Winfred Yavi. They finished ahead of teams from Poland and France, who took second and third places. The Commander-in-Chief expressed admiration for the athletes' determination and discipline, noting that their success contributes to Bahrain's expanding record of achievements in international military sports.