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Bahrain's golden girl Ruqaya Al Ghasra is back on track ... back to winning ways to be precise with the Beijing Olympic Games less than six months away.
Winning gold medals in the 60m and 400m at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championship in Doha last week, Ruqaya once again provided succour to a success-starved kingdom. Like in 2006, it was left to the 25-year-old to provide a glimmer of hope after another gloomy year for sports.
In 2006, Ruqaya won the 200m gold at the Asian Games at the same venue in Doha to lift the spirits of a nation still suffering from the heartburns of a disappointing end to the soccer World Cup campaign. It's the same story this time around too - the soccer team flatters to deceive once again, coming agonisingly close to booking a place in the Beijing Olympic Games.
Ruqaya comes to the rescue again, this time it's a double delight - winning two gold medals and both with record times. That it comes following a disappointing 2007 during which she missed all major events including the World Championship in Osaka due to a long-term injury speaks of her resilience.
Ruqaya is undoubtedly the toast of the kingdom, pride of the Arab region and a gem of an athlete. In her trademark hijab and blood-red tracksuit, the Bahraini makes an awe-inspiring presence on the athletic track. And in Doha last week, with a chest number of '100' and a 100 per cent record (two events, two golds), Ruqaya was simply sensational.
Ruqaya warmed up winning the 60m gold on the first day. It was an exemplary effort as it was her first major event following more than six months on the sidelines. A day later, Ruqaya proved that the tough get going when the going gets tough by winning the more demanding 400m.
Two gold in two days was simply unbelievable. Ruqaya was ecstatic, her coach Tadjine Noureddine relieved and the president of the Bahrain Athletic Association Shaikh Talal bin Mohammed Al Khalifa over the moon.
"This is an excellent achievement considering that both the 60m and 400m are not her specialities. We now expect greater things from her as we get closer to the Beijing Olympics," said Shaikh Talal who was in Doha for the championships.
Ruqaya and her coach Noureddine were typically modest and circumspect. If the big smile on her face said it all for Ruqaya, Noureddine was withdrawn, perhaps saving his best for bigger celebrations later in the year.
"She is happy and so am I after all that we have gone through in the last six to eight months," said Noureddine. "She will benefit from these wins as we now turn our focus to our main objective this year which is the Olympic Games."
But the task ahead of Ruqaya is daunting. The figures speak for itself as Ruqaya's best 200m time of 23.19 would not have won her a gold in the same event even in the 1964 Olympic Games which was won by Edith McGuire of the US in the then Olympic record time of 23.05.
The same is the case with Ruqaya's 100m best time of 11.27 which is only marginally better than the gold medal winning performance (11.49) of Wyomia Tyus of the US in 1964. These times pale in comparison to the world records in the same events (10.49 and 21.34, both in the name of Florence Griffith-Joyner).
But for Ruqaya the Olympic Games will be a test of another kind. At the Athens Games four years ago, she made the world take note of her not only for her attire but also for her spirit, guts and gumption. This time around it won't be surprising if the whole world is behind her ... in support for her ability to run against the odds in her own style.
In the process, if Ruqaya even manages to enter the final, it will be a major achievement not only for her but for all woman in the region.
