As one emirate wraps up a sporting extravaganza with the conclusion of the Dubai Desert Classic, another emirate welcomes some 900 athletes to take part in the second edition of the Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST) in Sharjah.

The AWST was officially inaugurated on Sunday at the Sharjah Cultural and Sports Club in the northern emirate and for the next 10 days, sports enthusiasts can enjoy some great competitive action from some of the region’s top women’s teams.

A host of female sportswomen from 14 different Arab countries will be competing across seven different sports starting today until February 12 in various venues in Sharjah.

The event which aims to give a boost to women sports in the Arab world, is the largest of its kind in the region and brings together clubs from Jordan, Algeria, Iraq, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Yemen, Kuwait, Palestine and the UAE.

The seven sports that can be witnessed, free of charge to all members of the public are basketball, volleyball, table tennis, fencing, archery, shooting, and athletics while the nine venues playing host to the various competitions include The Higher Colleges of Technology Sharjah, Al-Shaab Cultural & Sports Club, Al Thiqah Club for Handicapped, Al Andalus School, Sharjah Ladies Club (SLC), Al Dhaid Sports & Cultural Club, Wasit Youth Center, Sharjah University, and the Sharjah Cultural and Sports Club.

The SLC kicked things off last night when their basketball team edged past Bahrain’s Al Muharraq 64-62. The match followed an artistic silhouette performance in the opening ceremony, which was attended by some of the Arab world’s top sporting dignitaries including tournament patron and SLC chairperson HH Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi – the wife of the ruler of Sharjah – along with Sheikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, Bahrain Olympic Committee member and Head of AWST Supervisory Committee.

“This important sporting event is an effective educational tool that can refine the skills of our athletes, help prepare them for bigger events, and gives them a platform to showcase the capabilities of Arab women,” said Sheikha Hayat.

“This gives them a chance to aspire to achieve greater goals and will attribute to the creation of a generation of women athletes that can consistently compete and excel on the regional and international level.”

One of the athletes who is hoping to make a statement this week in Sharjah is UAE javelin thrower, Hanan Al Zyoudy. The 18-year-old said: “I believe I’ll do well in this tournament and achieve a new record for myself and for the UAE and Arab world. I have huge ambition and I really want to make it to the Olympics.”

Al Zyoudy says she’s excited to compete against her fellow Arabs, and one athlete particularly stands out for her.

“Reda Ahmed Tawfik, she is an Egyptian champion and I have lots of respect for her. I am really looking forward to compete against her. It will be an honour for me to go up against her,” she added.

The action officially begins on Monday, with table tennis matches scheduled starting 10:00, shooting competitions starting at 9:00, basketball matches at noon, and athletics at 8:30.

What: 2nd Arab Women Sports Tournament
When: February 2 to 12
Where: Several venues across Sharjah
Contact: www.awst.ae