BAHRAIN is all geared up to compete in the eighth edition of the Arab Women Sports Tournament in Sharjah, UAE.
The kingdom is being represented in the biennial multi-sport event by teams and individual athletes from four clubs, including Al Hala, Riffa, Budaiya, and Busaiteen. They are amongst 63 squads flying the flags of 16 countries across nine sports.
The competition is organised by Sharjah Women’s Sports under the patronage of wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Sharjah Family and Community Council chairperson Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi. It officially got underway last night with the opening ceremony, with play scheduled to begin today.
The kingdom’s sportswomen will be looking to repeat their success from the previous edition of the Arab Women Sports Tournament held in 2024, when they topped the medal table with an impressive 13 gold medals to headline a 23-medal hail.
Bahrain’s teams have already arrived in the Emirates to participate in their respective events.
The nationals are participating in five sports, including basketball represented by Hala, shooting and archery with Riffa, taekwondo with Budaiya, and fencing with Busatieen.
Basketball, archery, and fencing are all scheduled to kick off today. Shooting gets underway on Thursday and taekwondo on Tuesday next week.
The other sports that are being held as part of this year’s programme are athletics, table tennis, rowing, and volleyball.
The kingdom’s delegation is 65-strong, including players, coaches, and administrators. It is headed by director Salama Mohammed Ateeq, who met with the participating teams and individual athletes upon their arrival in Sharjah.
Basketball remains one of the tournament’s flagship sports, enjoying strong public interest due to its fast-paced nature. The competition also serves as a prominent platform to showcase the progress of Arab women’s clubs and their ability to compete at the regional level.
Hala are one of seven clubs in the basketball tournament. The others are Sharjah Women’s Sports Club and Khorfakkan Women’s Sports Club from the UAE, Al Fatat Sports Club from Kuwait, Shabab Fuheis Club from Jordan, Ghaz Al Shamal Club from Iraq, and Al Amal Sports Club–Al Watan Al Qibli from Tunisia.
Hala’s squad is set to be spearheaded by the kingdom’s top internationals such as Bayan Salman, Aya Kamali, Aya Moamen, Seema Hasan, Shirin Madwar, and Hessa Aljaber, among others.
Ahead of today’s start of play on the hardwood, the basketball technical meeting was held, attended by Hala coach Murtadha Mohammed. Also on hand was Bahrain Olympic Committee board member and Bahrain Table Tennis Association president Shaikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa as an official with the organising committee.
Amongst the other competing nations in this year’s Arab Women Sports Tournament, hosts UAE are going for gold in all nine sports with six clubs. Kuwait are represented by four clubs across eight sports, while Saudi Arabia are participating with five clubs in six sports. Qatar are competing with two clubs in three sports, and Oman are represented by Salalah Club in fencing.
Also in the fray are clubs from Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Somalia.
In 2024, Bahrain’s track and field athletes were the most successful, securing 14 medals, comprising nine gold and five silver. Bahrain’s shooters also captured double gold, the paddlers added a gold and a silver in table tennis, and their archers secured a gold and bronze medal.
Bahrain also won a silver in volleyball and a bronze each in basketball and fencing.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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