publish time

16/03/2017

author name Arab Times

publish time

16/03/2017

Some of the players pose for a family photo before a match
DOHA, March 15: The Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation (SWSF) commended the achievements of its athletes within the UAE national women’s team participating in the fifth edition of the GCC Women’s Games 2017, which commenced on March 7, and runs until March 17 in the Qatari capital of Doha. The 30 female players, who represent Sharjah’s women’s sports clubs that fall under the umbrella of SWSF, won 16 medals, 12 gold, three silver and one bronze medal, bringing medal tally secured by the national team on day 6 to 27 overall, including 12 gold, six silver and nine bronze medals.The UAE ranked third, while Qatar came first, followed by Bahrain, which came second, and Oman ranked fourth. The volleyball team, winner of the title of the previous edition, won the competition’s gold medal, with brilliant Alia Nasser, Mona Abbas, Hana Saud, Nadwah Waseem, Amani Abdullah, Samiha Hassan, and Sheikha Al Muhairi, who showed excellent skills every match, refl ecting the intense high-level training they receive at the club.The Fencing team also ranked first with Nora Al Boraiki, Latifa Al Hosni and Ashwaq Al Mosaabi winning three gold medals. Alanoud Al Saadi clinched the gold for the ‘Epée’ competition, while Latifa Al Hosni got gold at the ‘Fleuret’ (Foil) competition. In the 10-metre Air Pistol competition, Salwa Saeed, Wafa Khamis and Salma Al Hasouni won silver medals, while Hanan Al Zayoudi won bronze for Javelin Throw. Expressing her delight over the laurels won by the club’s members, Nada Askar Al Naqbi, Director General of SWSF, said: “Today, we reap the fruits of the unparalleled support of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood (SCMC). These achievements would not have also been possible without the immeasurable support of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of Sharjah Women Sports Foundation and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA), in the field of supporting and empowering women’s sports in the UAE, and enabling them to participate in regional and international sporting events. Thanks to their strongest support, our sportswomen are able to participate in the fifth edition of this tournament and further the achievements in sporting tournaments on local, regional and international levels.”“The constant support our sportswomen receive from several relevant entities has had a remarkable impact on their performance. I take this opportunity to extend a special vote of thanks to the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare, and the UAE National Olympic Committee for their great efforts to strengthen the Emirati sportswomen’s presence in all sporting competitions and tournaments,” she added. “I would also like to thank the UAE Women’s Sports Committee and the women’s delegation represented by HE Noura Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the General Women’s Union (GWU), and Chairwoman of the UAE Women’s Sports Committee (WSC), for supporting our sportswomen and enabling them to achieve great results in this tournament, presenting an honourable image of women’s sports in the UAE,” she concluded. The Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation (SWSF) and Sharjah Women’s Sports Club provide all necessary means for the club’s teams in various fields of sports. It develops plans and programmes for domestic and foreign training camps that help train and prepare the athletes. Training is conducted in a lively, yet intimate environment to ensure that members gain the skills to compete at highest levels of sports tournaments.