Sharjah to host first Arab Women Sports Tournament

The first Arab Women Sports Tournament to be held under the patronage of the wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Her Highness Sheikha Jawahir bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, and Chairperson of Sharjah Ladies Club, starts on Thursday at the Sharjah Ladies Club in Sharjah and will continue till February 12.

Sports clubs representing 12 countries will participate in this event, which is to be held every four years and includes a number of sports such as basketball, volleyball, athletics, shooting and table tennis.

The UAE will participate in all sports in the tournament.

Noura Al Noman, General Director of the Executive Office Sheikha Jawahir, the President of the Higher Organizing Committee for the Women’s Arab Clubs session, said: "There is no doubt that we in the Sharjah Ladies Club are proud to organise such an event which is the first of its kind in the Arab region, which comes within the framework of the efforts made with the various parties for the advancement of Arab women in an area that was considered impossible in the past.

"The first session of Arab Women sports tournament will be a platform that gathers a range of Arab women's teams that expressed their happiness and confirmed their participation in this major sports event. We have had consultations leading to receiving support and cooperation from prominent sports committees such as the Olympic committees and League of Arab States, and the General Authority for Youth and Sports in the UAE. The aim behind organising this event to publicise the positive impact of sport and physical activity on health and its role in changing social perceptions about the practice of girls for sport."

Nada Naqbi, member of the Organising Committee and Tournament Director said: "We saw a great response and encouragement from several parties for the first Arab Women Sports Tournament in Sharjah. We will provide all facilities and services to the Arab delegations participating so that this tournament will be the starting point for a series of successes that we will work to achieve in the future and raise the UAE and Arab women level in the sports field after it was reserved for men only."

The competitions will be held in the College of Technology, which hosts volleyball competitions and training of teams participating in this sport.

Playgrounds of University of Sharjah and the American University of Sharjah courts would be used for volleyball and basketball trainings.

Al Thiqa Club for Disabled will host the training and competitions in athletics and basketball.

Sharjah Ladies Club will host the training and competitions of shooting, basketball and volleyball.  The Sharjah Youth Center will only host basketball and volleyball trainings.

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