Category: Athletic

ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi Grand Kingfish Championship, held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, concluded yesterday, Sunday, 21 April.

Having run for three days, the tournament was organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club, with the shared goal of preserving traditional competitions that encapsulates the UAE’s maritime heritage.

More than 1,500 anglers aboard more than 360 fishing boats participated in the largest event of its kind in the region, with total financial prizes exceeding AED 1,000,000. 166 kingfish were delivered for weighing by 135 boats. Hamad Al Kamali, participant number 188, won the first place prize of AED 200,000 after catching a kingfish that weighed 32.69 kg on the second day of the tournament, followed by Omar Al Buraiki (173), who won the second place prize of AED 150,000. Third place Mohammed Al Marzooqi (139) won AED 100,000.

The fourth place prize of AED 50,00
0 was won by Ahmed Al Shehhi (88), fifth place prize of AED 40,000 by Saeed Al Rumaithi (20), sixth place prize of AED 30,000 by Muhammad Issa Al Shamsi (224), seventh place prize of AED 25,000 by Sultan Al Qubaisi (134), eighth place prize of AED 20,000 by Obaid Al Hosani (291), ninth place of prize of AED 19,000 by Hashem Al Khaja (7), and tenth place prize of AED 18,000 by Ibrahim Al Marzooqi (50). The prizes extended until 60th place.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Kingfish Championship is one of the most important marine sporting events that preserves the popular heritage of kingfishing amongst Emiratis and encourages the community to practice the sport of fishing, in addition to promoting the concept of reviving the local marine heritage, providing opportunities for amateurs to practice fishing, and revitalizing the spirit of competition among marine fishing enthusiasts.

Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, appreciated the generous sponsorship and unlimited support of H.H. Shei
kh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, for the Abu Dhabi Grand Kingfish Championship, reflecting the Council’s interest in reviving traditional marine sports, as well as encouraging and inviting various segments of society to practice sports and making it a pattern of daily life for all individuals.

Al Awani congratulated the winners and all those who participated in the tournament, as well as the committees working the event. He also thanked the sponsors, supporters and everyone who contributed to the success of the first edition of the tournament, indicating that the combined efforts of everyone led to the amazing successes that were achieved.

Majid Ateeq Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Abu Dhabi Grand Kingfish Championship, thanked H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, for his generous sponsorship of the first edition of the tournament, which witnessed a large turnout from citizens, residents and various
participants from around the world. It offered the largest total of financial prizes, which contributed to encouraging participants to practice marine fishing using a rod.

Al Muhairi confirmed that a large quantity of fish, 166 kingfish of various weights that ranged from 14 to 32 kg, were caught, congratulating all the winners and wishing best of luck to the rest of the contestants.

He concluded by saying: ‘We thank everyone who contributed to the success of this largest event of its kind in the region, including out partners, sponsors, organisational committees and volunteers, and we promise everyone more competitions and tournaments related to the sport of marine fishing.’

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: The official opening ceremony of the first Gulf Youth Games UAE 2024 will take place at the iconic Dubai Opera on Tuesday.

Hosted by UAE, the inaugural Gulf Youth Games will run until May 2 with the participation of 3,500 male and female athletes competing in diverse array of 24 sports, under the theme, “Our Gulf is One… Our youth are promising.”

At the heart of the opening ceremony lies a profound emphasis on three fundamental pillars: sustainability, unity, and the vibrancy of youth. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies and harnessing the power of artificial intelligence tools, the spectacle promises to be a testament to innovation and inclusivity.

The UAE continued to dominate the Gulf Youth Games, solidifying their lead in the medal table with a whopping 155 medals by the end of day six.

During Sunday’s competitions, windsurfing boosted the UAE’s medal tally significantly. Emiratis won 11 more medals (5 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze), totaling 53 gold, 57 silver, and 45 bronze. Saudi Arabia holds
second with 54 medals (25 gold, 17 silver, 12 bronze), Kuwait third with 57 medals (14 gold, 21 silver, 22 bronze). Oman is fourth with 37 medals (16 gold, 7 silver, 13 bronze). Bahrain is fifth with 33 medals (9 gold, 11 silver, 13 bronze), Qatar sixth with 18 medals (8 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze). UAE chess team excels in rapid chess tournament at Sharjah Chess and Cultural Club. UAE’s under-18 female players dominate, with Rawda Al Sarkal in first, Fatima Saif Al Ali in second, Ahlam Rashid in third. Anoud Issa wins under-14 category, Shamma Khalfan Al Suwaidi second, Ohoud Issa tied for third. Abdul Rahman Al-Taher leads U-18 category, Ahmed Badr second, Ghaith Al-Nuaimi and Zayed Sultan Al-Taher tied for third. In U-14 boys, Khaled Al-Jamaat leads, Salem Jassim and Mahmoud Al-Moussawi tied for second.

Abdul Malik Jani, President of the UAE Triathlon Federation, expressed pride in the UAE’s successful hosting of the Gulf Youth Games, stating, “Hosting the tournament underscores our unwavering commitment to
supporting youth and fostering sports activity in the country.”

The triathlon races are set to commence at 8 in the morning. The swimming race will take place at Al Zorah Beach on April 26, while the cycling and running races will be held in the vicinity of the Police Sports and Shooting Club in Ajman on April 27th. The coronation ceremonies are scheduled to take place inside the club at 10 am on the closing day of the competition.

Obaid Zayed Al-Anazi, Vice President of the International Federation and President of the Asian Judo Federation, believes the Gulf Youth Games are crucial for developing future athletic stars across the Arab Gulf region. He highlights the impressive skills displayed by young athletes in various sports, emphasizing the event’s role as a springboard for fostering champions.

Al-Anazi urges Gulf Olympic Federations to work together, establishing a unified vision and a strategic roadmap for future tournaments. He suggests leveraging the Games’ outcomes to elevate the entire sporting
landscape in the Gulf. This aligns with the aspirations of GCC leaders who view sports as a symbol of regional strength, progress, and prosperity

Mohammed Bu Khater, Vice President of the UAE Boxing Federation and leader of the national team at the Gulf Youth Games, confirmed that preparations for the boxing competition are complete. The tournament is overseen by the Asian Boxing Confederation.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club hosted the third round of its flagship community event, the Abu Dhabi Swim for Life League 2024 this weekend at Mohamed Bin Zayed City Sports Complex.

Some 511 swimmers from 30 clubs and swimming academies nationwide, across all age groups, participated in the third edition of the league.

The competitions witnessed the participation of the ‘Poseidon Kuwait’ team, which participated for the first time in the tournament with 15 swimmers.

The Abu Dhabi Swim for Life League aims to develop aquatic sports and activate partnerships with various local and international partners.

The second round of the league was held in July 2023 and witnessed the participation of 254 swimmers, from 20 clubs and swimming academies across the UAE.

Source: Emirates News Agency

MUSCAT: Omani Athletics Federation President Sheikh Salim al Omari highlighted the importance of sports cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Oman. He emphasised that collaboration in various sports strengthens the strategic relationship between the two countries.

Sheikh al Omari stated that deepening sports ties is a priority. He cited shared goals, ongoing efforts, joint participation in events, and coordinated development strategies as key factors driving this focus.

“We continually seek opportunities to develop our nations’ athletics programmes,” he said. “By sharing best practices, we can elevate sports collaboration across the board. A development-focused vision is crucial for our ambitious plans to enhance athletes’ skills and potential.”

He acknowledged the progress made in athletics within both countries. He attributed this growth to dedicated efforts, ambitious plans for the future, and participation in regional, continental, and international competitions. Additionally, he highlighted
the implementation of targeted programs that build a strong foundation of athletes who can compete and represent their nations well.

“Last September, we hosted the ninth Arab Junior Championship,” Sheikh al Omari noted. “The UAE and other regional countries participated alongside Oman. In the coming days, our national team will compete in the Asian Youth Cup under 20, held in Dubai from 24th to 27th April. We regularly exchange ideas and consult with the UAE Athletics Federation, led by Major General Dr. Mohammed Al Murr. This collaboration ensures we address common issues and develop a shared vision that fuels athletics’ growth in both our nations.”

Source: Emirates News Agency

Doha: Permits Management Director at the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup in Qatar, Abdullah Al Mannai, confirmed that around 25,000 permits have been issued for this continental tournament, including registration via the official website of the Asian Football Confederation, as well as through the LOC-approved channels.

In a statement to the Qatar News Agency , Al Mannai explained that the Permits Management, in collaboration with the Security Committee and the Entry Permit Committee for Visitors to Qatar (Hayya), worked on obtaining the necessary approvals and issuing mandatory permits for all entities. Additionally, there is a special platform for journalists, called the “Hayya Media Portal,” aimed at facilitating the work of journalists covering the events, alongside issuing permits for all partners and workforce to perform their duties effectively.

Al Mannai highlighted that the accumulation of experiences gained from previous tournaments, along with the significant legac
y Qatar acquired after hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Finals, contributed to securing the issuance of permits smoothly through cooperation with partners and relevant authorities. This is done with great flexibility in parallel with the required technical aspects, aligning with the importance of the event, further enhancing the distinguished reputation of Qatari organization, he explained.

He concluded his statements to QNA by emphasizing that the Permits Management at the committee comprises outstanding Qatari talents who have gained extensive organizational experience through their participation in organizing numerous tournaments and sporting events hosted by Qatar in recent years.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: China defeated the United Arab Emirates 2-1 on Monday in matchday 3 of Group B of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.

The victory was only the East Asians’ second ever win in tournament victory and saw them finish third in Group B ahead of their opponents, with both already eliminated prior to kick-off, the AFC website reported.

Having each failed to score in their preceding two matches, China PR and UAE were looking to salvage some pride and it was the latter who threatened first in the seventh minute. Fahad Bader romped down the left and put in a low cross that was turned into his own goal by Jia Feifan, only for VAR to rule that the winger had been offside when receiving the ball.

That was the best moment of the half for the West Asians, who came under the cosh from a determined China PR side that broke the deadlock in the 24th minute. Harib Abdalla’s half-hearted headed clearance from Tao Qianglong’s cross saw the ball fall to Xie Wenneng near the penalty spot, a
nd the 23-year-old promptly volleyed it into the left bottom corner.

It was China PR’s first goal in six AFC U23 Asian Cup matches, with the last time they found the back of the net coming in a 3-0 win against Oman in 2018.

The UAE were granted a second reprieve in the 41st minute when referee Hussein Abo Yehia overturned a penalty award following a VAR review, but it lasted just nine minutes. A blind pass from Sultan Ali was intercepted by Liu Zhurun, who shrugged off Zayed Sultan and advanced into the area to drill a low finish past goalkeeper Khaled Tawhid.

Seeking a response, Marcelo Broli made three changes after the restart and reaped near-immediate dividends. Three minutes into the second half, Ahmed Fawzi masterfully brought Abdulla Almenhali’s piercing diagonal pass under control before calmly sliding the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper Li Hao. It was just the second shot on target registered by the UAE throughout the tournament.

That tally soon grew to three when substitute Mohammed Jumah, wh
o had fired a half chance wide already, drew a smart save from Li with a fierce drive just past the hour mark.

In the ascendancy now, UAE probed for an equaliser and Jumah headed a decent opening over before Sultan Ali nearly atoned for his mistake with a curling free-kick that was tipped over at full stretch by Li, who was making his first appearance at this tournament.

A rare glimpse of goal at the other end for Abuduwaili could have seen him wrap up the win but the forward’s tame effort was gratefully collected by Tawhid, who also shovelled away an effort from Zhu Yue late on.

But in the end, UAE simply could not muster enough to avoid a third successive loss even with nine minutes of added time, leaving China PR to celebrate a hard-earned triumph at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium.

Source: Qatar News Agency