11th Ramadan Women’s Sports Tournament begins tomorrow (Wednesday) with 340 players from 25 teams participating

The 11th edition of Ramadan Women’s Sports Tournament (RWST), being organised by the Sharjah Women’s Sports (SWS), will be held from May 8-14, with the participation of 340 female athletes from 25 teams.

The sporting event is being held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of SWS. The participating teams will compete in four sporting events - basketball, volleyball, shooting and archery, along with other activities that are being held on the sidelines of the one-week championship.

The tournament will begin with a Ramadan session presented by Khawla Abdul Rahman Al Mulla, Chairperson of the Sharjah Consultative Council, to highlight the sporting spirit of Emirati women and the importance of sports in their personal and social life during Ramadan.

Staring on Thursday, May 9, volleyball competitions will be held until May 12, while basketball competitions will take place on May 13 and 14. Shooting contests will be held from May 9 -11, while archery competitions will take place on May 9 and 10.

The participating teams include the Sharjah Women Sports Club (SWSC), whose team will compete in all the four sports. The SWSC team will play against Al Ain Sports Club’s team, the American University in Dubai (AUD) team, Baniyas Sports Club’s team and Sharjah American International School’s team. They are also the favourites to clinch the archery champion title.

Teams from Sharjah Women Sports Club, University of Sharjah, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and Shkis team, Ravens team and AUD team will compete to secure the basketball title. Volleyball competitions will see the participation of SWSC, Wildcats, Italian Espera Moonves team, Makati Express Cargo team, Shkis team, Elite Volleyball Academy and Al Wasl Sports Club. The SWSC and Al Dhaid Cultural and Sports Club, as well as Abu Dhabi Police, Sharjah Police, Ajman Police, Ras Al Khaimah Police and Fujairah Police, along with Sharjah Individual Games Club-Al Hazana, will compete in the shooting contests.

HE Nada Askar Al Naqbi, Director General of SWS, said: “The launch of this year’s edition of the Ramadan Women’s Sports Tournament reflects SWS’s goals and its out-reaching strategy that aims to highlight the importance of sports and physical activity, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan, which will reflect positively on the health of individuals.”

She added: “Practicing sports is important and essential at all times. SWS seeks through its sports activities and events, especially the annual Ramadan tournament, to promote the concept of practicing sports during the holy month of Ramadan and give female players an opportunity to hone their athletic talents, so that they can go on to compete successfully in regional and international sporting championships.”

Apart from sporting competitions, a host of entertainment activities and daily prize draws will be held throughout the one-week championship. First-place winners of individual games and the first three winners of the group games will be given cash prizes.

Established in November 2016, under an Emiri Decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, SWS aims to empower national women athletes and develop human capital in the field of women's sports. It also seeks to create a talented generation of women leaders in sports, encourage women's participation in different sports, foster a culture of sports and provide a stimulating environment that contributes to advancing women's sports.