Ninth Ramadan Women’s Sports Gathering Aims to Enhance Women’s Health during the Holy Month

The on-going efforts of Sharjah Women’s Sport Foundation (SWSF) to develop women’s sports in the Emirate of Sharjah are manifested by the broad spectrum of activities and events sponsored and organised by the foundation throughout the year. The ninth Ramadan Women’s Sports Gathering, which takes place May 27 to June 2, 2017, is one such event and has been organised with the aim of honing the skills of the participating sportswomen, ensuring their physical fitness and giving them the opportunity to enjoy the spiritual ambience of Ramadan.

This year’s gathering features local and regional sports clubs, as well as private companies from across the UAE. A total of 350 sportswomen from 20 clubs will compete in three activities; basketball, volleyball and shooting. They will also participate in a number of Ramadan Majlis meetings and competitions, which will be held on the side-lines of the sports tournament and offer valuable prizes for winners.  

“The ninth Ramadan Women’s Sports Gathering builds on the success of the previous eight sports gathering and  takes the opportunity of the holy month to provide women with an ideal environment to exercise and play sports. This year’s edition of the sports gathering is enjoying a great deal of attention from various sports sectors and institutions because of the great physical and mental benefits it provides participants. We are particularly delighted to host a women’s basketball team from Kuwait this year,” said HE Nada Askar Al Naqbi, Director General of SWSF.

“SWSF hosts outstanding teams who compete in international tournaments, attain numerous achievements and contribute to reflecting an honourable image of Emirati women’s sports around the world. Our female athletes prove that Emirati women are capable and willing to take on leading roles in all fields,” Al Naqbi added.

Teams taking part in the ninth Ramadan Women’s Sports Gathering are required to meet the tournament’s conditions and criteria in terms of formation and organisation. Basketball teams should comprise 12 registered female athletes (residents and locals) and are not permitted to change athletes once the tournament begins. The technical staff of each team should include a female manger and a female coach. A set of new basketball international rules and regulations will be implemented during the competition - such as the 40-minute length game as advised by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) - and all players are required to wear the same team strip.

The criteria and conditions of participation in the volleyball competitions stipulate that each team should consist of 12 female athletes (residents and locals), with the teams having the possibility of registering two ‘libero’ players. The technical staff of each team should include a female manger and a female coach. The new international rules and regulations will be implemented at the tournament, as well as other scoring regulations and rule-changes that meet international standards enacted by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).

The Ramadan Women’s Sports Gathering’s shooting competition, which is being hosted at SWSF’s shooting range, comprises two contests; one in pistol shooting and one in rifle shooting, each one involving 40 rounds. Teams are able to field as many contestants as they wish while the technical staff of each team should include a female manger and a female coach. The new rules and regulation set by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) will be implemented at the tournament.

“This year’s Ramadan Women’s Sports Gathering sees a high level of organisation, supervision and arbitration by a host of elite women arbitration commissions from Emirati sports unions and federations, with the aim of ensuring that all female athletes taking part will participate in fair competition which will bring out the best in them and achieve honourable results in accordance with international rules and regulations,” said Al Naqbi.

In November 2016, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council Ruler of Sharjah, issued an Emiri Decree setting up SWSF. The foundation enjoys administrative and financial independence with full legal competence to pursue its activities and achieve its goals. As per the decree, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi has been named Chairperson of SWSF.

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.

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