The City of Al Ain embraces the world
“Hafeet Challenge” brings together more than 25 nationalities in a Ramadan social sports experience
Al Amera was crowned as the champion of hand ball tournament and women basketball records a historical launching
During the holy month of Ramadan, the City of Al Ain is witnessing exceptional atmospheres that brings together the spirit of society with the vibrancy of sports, in a scenery that reflects the integration of social initiatives with sports activities, which aim to boost the quality of life and to establish the concept of social sports as one of the fundamental pillars for the local identity. As the events of “Hafeet Sport Challenge” goes on, competitions are moving forward with a rising momentum, which reflects the vibrancy of the event and its capability to create an interactive space, that brings together sports with the society in an integrated experience that extends until the 18th of the holy month of Ramadan.
This year, the events of “Hafeet Sport Challenge” reflect the vibrant image of the social diversity, which is a defining characteristic of the City of Al Ain, where competitions recorded the participation of athletes who represent more than 25 nationalities from different continents, in an interactive model that boosts the cultural proximity through sports and embodies the concepts of inclusiveness and social integration, through an organized and competitive environment that is based on the mutual respect and the spirit of one team. The event’s diversity adds a human dimension that goes beyond the boundaries of competition, to become a true space for the indirect cultural dialogue that is created by sports through a global mutual language.
The current version of “Hafeet Sport Challenge” stands out as one of the most prominent social initiatives on the level of the country, after succeeding in attracting huge fans attendance and a growing digital interaction, through a diverse program of tournaments and competitions that are being held on tens of venues across the City of Al Ain, which target various age categories and cultural backgrounds across a positive competitive environment that boosts the spirit of sharing and social affiliation.
Al Amera secures the title of hand ball tournament
In thrilling atmospheres dominated by the spirit of rivalry, challenge, and enthusiasm, the title of hand ball tournament of “Hafeet Sport Challenge” on Al Ain City Municipality’s Ghnaymah venue was secured, with the attendance of His Excellency Salem Rashid Bin Hudairem Al Ketbi, who is the chairman of the higher organizing committee, and Rashid Abdullah, who is the CEO of Al Ain Club Investment Company and the manager of Hafeet Sport Challenge.
The semi-finals round of competitions witnessed the victory of Al Maqam team over Hafeet team with the score of (30-24), while Al Amera team claimed victory over its competitor Al Faqa team with the score of (14-8), so both teams were set to meet in the final match.
In a powerful final match, which was characterized with rivalry and equality up until the final moment, Al Amera team was successful in securing the match vs Al Maqam team with the score of (30-28), so they were crowned with the golden medals after delivering a brilliant performance and a competitive high level all over the journey of competitions.
And in accordance with the tournament’s adopted system, all participating teams on the level of different tournaments will be crowned in an inclusive closing ceremony for “Hafeet Sport challenge”, in a step that reflects the keenness of the organizing committee to honor the efforts of all participants and to boost the spirit of social participation.
A qualitative launching for women basketball
In a qualitative step that reflects the continuous expansion of the event and in response to the growing development of women sports in the United Arab Emirates, Al Qattarah indoor venue’s hall attached to Tahnoon Bin Mohammed stadium witnessed the launching of women basketball tournament for the first time during the competitions program.
This tournament came with the participation of 6 teams that represent diverse academic, university, and social entities, at the forefront was Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak academy with two teams, Abu Dhabi University, Sharjah University, as well as a team that represents the Filipino community, in a scenery that reflects the sports and cultural diversity, which is the defining characteristic of the City of Al Ain.
The results of the first round of competitions
The matches of the first round of competitions resulted in a differentiated rivalry that reflected the tournament’s competitive level, where team (1) of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak academy claimed victory over Sharjah University with the score of (67-49), during the matches of the Group A.
In the competitions of Group B, team (2) of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak academy claimed victory over Elite team with the score of (74-7), in a match that witnessed an apparent advantage for the victorious team in terms of organization and efficiency on the forward line of play.
A platform to develop talents and to boost social participation
This initiative is harmonious with the strategic goals that aim to develop social sports and to discover talents, where the accompanying tournaments represent a true space to monitor the up-and-coming potential talents and honing them within an organized competitive environment, which supports the development journey of group games and the expansion of sports practicing base.
Tareq Al Shareef, who is the supervisor over basketball tournament at Al Ain Club and the supervisor over basketball competitions at “Hafeet Sport Challenge”, emphasized that including women basketball for the first time represents a qualitative step that reflect the growing development of women sports across the country, he also pointed out that the participation of players who are active in official local and university tournaments contributed in elevating the level of competitions from day one.
He added that the tournament represents an important hub to support the spread of basketball and to discover the up-and-coming talents, in a way that boosts the paths of developing group games inside the City of Al Ain and contributes in supporting the sports ecosystem with the power of young players.
