Participants in action.

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 3: The second Arab Women’s Sailing Championship has kicked off at Al-Messilah Beach in Kuwait, featuring 37 athletes from across the Arab world. Organized by the Sailing, Rowing, and Kayak Committee of the Kuwait Sea Sports Club, the championship runs through December 5.

Tournament director Ibrahim Al-Furaih said the event is held under the Arab Sailing Federation, with participants representing Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Egypt, Algeria, Libya, and Sudan. The championship also includes a panel of international referees from Morocco, Algeria, Italy, Poland, France, and Russia.

The competition features three races in each of the Optimist, ILCA 4, and ILCA 6 categories. The championship will conclude on Friday with an awards ceremony to honor the winners.

Al-Furaih highlighted the broader goals of the event: promoting sailing in Kuwait, empowering women athletes, developing the skills of Arab sailors, and preparing them for international competitions, including the Olympic Games.

He also pointed to Kuwaiti sailor Amina Shah, the first Kuwaiti and Gulf woman to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics in sailing, as a role model. Shah’s achievement came through years of dedicated training, preparation, and participation in various competitions, paving the way for future generations of Arab women in the sport.