Australia, China add glamour to Rashid Volleyball

Top ranked teams from Asia including China and Australia have confirmed their participation in the Rashid International Volleyball tournament to be held at Al Shabab Club Hall in Dubai from September 9 to 15.

The 13th edition of this annual tournament organised by the UAE Volleyball Association (UAEVA) and supported by the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) has been sanctioned by the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC).  

South Asian rivals India and Pakistan along with defending champions Iran and hosts UAE complete the six-nation line-up for the event.

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the DSC, this tournament will also serve as a warm-up for the 16th Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship to be held in Teheran from September 21 to 29.

“This sporting event comes in memory of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, for the great support he gave to the volleyball sport in particular, and to the UAE sports in general, under the guidance and support of the UAE’s founder, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,” said Amer Ali, chairman of the UAE volleyball association said at a press conference held at their headquarters to announce the event.

He expected a high standard of competition and increase in attendance this time because of the strong teams participating in it.

Ali said in cooperation with the Dubai Sports Council they have plans to make this tournament a self-sustaining project by 2013 not only by improving the level of organisation but also the standard of the UAE national team.

“UAE must play really strong teams if they are to improve their standard. We are hoping to they could participate in either the Asian Championships or Asian Cup next year. Normally they will have to play with the same teams so let them start playing from now,” said Ali when asked how UAE players would benefit from this competition.

“To be honest even in GCC we don’t have a proper ranking. We are trying to play with top Asian teams to make sure that we have a strong team in GCC. We can bring small teams and beat them. That is not our objective. It is to raise our level,” he added.

Dr Ahmed Sharif, Secretary General of DSC said their objective in supporting such tournaments was three-fold.

“Firstly, ten years ago volleyball in the UAE was going through a critical phase. We decided to put volleyball on the right track because it was not in a good situation,” he said.

Secondly, in keeping with the strategic objectives of DSC, they want to promote Dubai as an ideal sporting destination, he said.

“There are many clubs coming to Dubai to have training camps not just in football, but volleyball, basketball and other sports. So by hosting such tournaments we want to promote Dubai as an important destination specially for volleyball,” he said.

Thirdly, he noted, that results can be achieved only if the UAE national team gains exposure by participating in these tournaments. “Without exposure at international level, how can the national team achieve good results,” he said.

Dr Sharif also revealed the working strategy of DSC and their goals in supporting the Rashid tournament.  

He also stressed that the kind patronage of Sheikh Hamdan to the tournament will motivate all relevant government and non-government entities in the UAE to support the tournament and secure its successful operation, in a way that will ultimately be technically beneficial to the UAE national team.

He also expressed his hope that the tournament would achieve all its goals, and expressed his confidence in the UAE Volleyball Association that it is capable, with all the talent of the teams working there, to make this tournament an international success.  

Ali stressed that the event will see major changes and will become a turning point in the history of the tournament since its establishment. He explained that the organising committee has seen to it that the teams participating in the tournament are selected based on an intensive list of technical criteria, with the aim of enhancing the quality level of the tournament.

He also mentioned that the participation of well-renowned teams like China and Australia playing with the UAE national team, will add a lot of excitement and suspense to the tournament, which will certainly be reflected in higher attendance numbers.  

Ali also revealed that the tournament has invited a lot of prominent figures in the volleyball field, on the international and continental levels. These dignitaries include Saleh bin Naser, Chairman of the Asian Federation, and Eisa Hamza, vice-chairman of the Continental Federation.   

Since its launch in 1996, the tournament has seen many developments, and was and is still one of the most prominent volleyball events on both the European and Middle East region levels. The previous 11 tournaments attracted 22 of the world best teams in the volleyball, and these included: Ukraine, India, Egypt, Australia, Philippines, Spain, Lebanon, Romania, Pakistan, Poland, Sweden, Cuba, Tunisia, Iran, Bahrain, Oman, Thailand, Indonesia, Syria, Austria, France and Slovenia.

The UAE volleyball association has entrusted the organisation of the tournament to a committee headed by Amer Ali and comprising Fahad Abdul Rahman Al Mulla, the tournament director, Sheikha Shamsa bint Hashr Al Maktoum, the head of marketing committee, Hasan Habib, Dubai Sports Channel, Abdulla Al Oghani, representative of Dubai Sports Council, Majid Al Hasawi, Al Shabab Club, Ahmed Al Abdouli, the National Committee for Sports and Youth, Anwar Ali Al Afifi, the tournament assistant manager and the head of the financial committee, Nasir Hameed Nasir, head of the technical committee, Yousuf Ahmed Al Manai, head of the referees and playgrounds committee, and Obeid Al Sajid, president of public relations and protocol.

The organising committee also include representatives from Dubai Police, Dubai Naturalization and Residence Department, Dubai health Department, and Dubai Ambulance Center. The convenor of the committee is Hasan Al Sayyed.

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