WUHAN, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Asian champion Winfred Yavi said she came to the 7th CISM Military World Games for a simple reason: to take the medal for Bahrain. And she did.
The 19-year-old, fresh from a fourth finish in the World Championship in Doha, finished the women's 3,000m steeplechase in nine minutes and 19.24 seconds for a gold medal, Bahrain's first at the Games.
"It's good because it encourages other athletes in Bahrain to come and defend the title four years later, or for me if I come and defend the title again," Yavi said.
The 2018 Asian Games and 2019 Asian Championship winner was 17.68 seconds faster that pervious CISM record set by Mercy Njoroge of Kenya in 2011.
Luiza Gega of Albania, who finished ninth in Doha, set the pace in the first lap, but was unable to caught up with Yavi and Marusa Mismas of Slovenia (9:24.47) in the final lap, finishing third in 9:26.35.
"I was not so sure for the race today so for this reason I ran out quick in the beginning," Gega explain.
"This is the first time for Albania to take a medal at this Military World Games. I am so happy. I hope that next time I can take another medal - gold or silver maybe," she added.
Yavi will also feature in women's 5,000m on Thursday, while Mismas and Gega will compete in women's 1,500m on Saturday.
