Expanded Arab Women’s Sports Championship to draw a bigger crowd in Sharjah

SHARJAH // Organisers of the second Arab Women’s Sports Championship hope to attract twice as many supporters this year.

This year’s biennial event, which begins on Sunday, has been expanded with new countries taking part, new venues and new sports.

Fencing and archery have been added to the line-up, which also features shooting and athletics.

Eight countries from the region, including the UAE and Jordan, took part in the inaugural championship in 2012 – this year they will be joined by Algeria, Sudan, Iraq, Oman, Lebanon and Libya.

About 900 athletes will compete.

Events will be spread across the emirate, at Wasit Youth Centre, Al Andalus School, Al Dhaid Sports and Cultural Club, Sharjah Cultural and Sports Club and Al Shaab Cultural and Sports Club.

Men and women are welcome at the events and entry is free.

Majda Al Bloushi, 21, a table-tennis player, is competing for the second time. She hopes local supporters will come and cheer the teams on.

“It makes a big difference,” she said.

She competed in the recent world championships in Dubai this month but said there was more pressure this time.

“We are all on more of an equal level at this tournament and have a similar amount of experience,” she said, although she believes playing at home will be an advantage.

“Last time we didn’t have so many people come to watch but this year there has been more awareness about the event, so we really hope people will come, even if that is in the evening events when they have finished work.”

She is training for up to six hours a day for her debut match at Al Manal School on February 3.

“Even if we don’t win, I really hope we at least give a great performance,” she said.

Her teammate, Sumaya Al Bloushi, 28, a member of the shooting team, is nervous, despite having competed in the last event.

“It has come around so quickly,” she said. A police gun instructor, Ms Al Bloushi is doing as much as she can to relax when not working or training.

“I am trying to exercise, like walking or swimming, just to keep calm as it’s a big pressure,” she said. “I need to do things to take my mind off the competition as I am thinking about it all the time.”

Certified by the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees and the Arab League, it is the first pan-Arab sports event of its kind in the world.

Reem Binkaram, head of the communications and event committee, said she hoped that the “cosmopolitan community of the UAE”, would help to double the number of spectators compared with the first event.

In 2012 about 850 people came to watch over the 10 days, but with more sports and more countries added, she hopes this will increase.

“We have really stepped up our efforts to raise awareness through the media and linking with the Ministry of Education to inform schools as well as inviting government entities,” she said.

Last week, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed, chairman of the organising committee, said the tournament would be a display of “world- class” talent.

For more information and tournament schedules visit www.awst.ae.

mswan@thenational.ae